Friday, March 29, 2024
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Land Acquisition Act: Have the powers that be read it?

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Editor,

The news item under the caption “Meghalaya…in opposing land acquisition act” (ST JUNE 28, 2014, P-10) is a stark reminder of the hypocrisy of the powers that be and of the ignorance and/or lack of concern on the part of those who claim to be defenders of our rights and privileges under the Constitution. The present Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. R C Laloo had not done his home work before opening his mouth to put his foot in it, at the meeting with Union Minister for Rural Development, Nitin Gadkari as reported. Where was anyone – the powers that be, the so-called NGOs and the self proclaimed leaders of our community – in 2011 when the undersigned gate-crashed into the office of one of the Dy. CMs, Mr. Rowell Lyngdoh, to get the Government’s views on the then draft of the LARR Bill, 2011 (only to get the response that the government was not aware of it) and when the resolution of the meetings of a group of concerned people to discuss the draft bill were passed? Suffice it to say that the discussions at the meetings of the group of concerned and responsible persons resulted in the dispatch of a fax message to Hon’ble Minister for Rural Development, GoI, Mr Jairam Ramesh, who piloted the bill in the Lok Sabha. This resulted in the introduction of the proviso to Section 2 of the LARR Act which reads, “…no land shall be transferred by way of acquisition, in the Scheduled Areas in contravention of the law relating to land transfer, prevailing in such Scheduled Areas”.

It is relevant to mention that in 2011, after my gate-crashing into the Dy.CM’s Office, the then Revenue Minister, Dr. R C Laloo, was mouthing his abstract ideas of seeking exemption from the proposed National Land Acquisition & R & R Bill, 2011. It is strange that now the same person is parroting the same idea which shows that he has not read the LARR Act. I now request him as well as all concerned persons or group of persons to read that proviso to Section 2 of the Act.

It is necessary to mention that, after one of the meetings convened by the undersigned in December, 2011, a representation in writing was addressed to Dr. Mukul Sangma, the then CM to enact a strong and ethical Land Transfer Act which he ignored. Even the request by the group for an audience with him was ignored despite many visits by me to his office to get a response. After all these facts, any interested individual or group of individuals may obtain copies of the fax message to Jairam Ramesh and the representation to the CM (Dr. M. Sangma).

The proviso to Section 2 referred herein above is a clear indication that it is up to the State Government to make a law to exempt the state from the provision of the LARR Act.

Yours etc., Morning Star Sumer Shillong – 2

Save our border citizens!

Editor,

One read with great interest the news item: “KHADC mulls ultimatum to Govt” that appeared (ST June 25, 2014).Our brethren living along the inter-State border of Meghalaya and Assam have been and are still living a life of uncertainty and apprehension. The inter-State border has been the most uncared for and the most orphaned since the inception of the state of Meghalaya. On several occasions we have read, heard and some even witnessed the sad plight of people living there. I cannot help but go back to the Sahsniang incident that happened in November 2003 where nearly 4000 men, women and children were displaced from their homes in Block I and Block II areas under Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. I witnessed how our people were reduced to the status of refugees as they were forced to leave their hearths and homes and their belongings behind to flee for their lives. Today once again we read of this grave matter being tabled by the CEM, KHADC Ardent Basaiawmoit on the second day of the KHADC’s Summer Session to pressurise the Chief Minister and his government to take necessary action. A well thought of intention on a very important matter indeed. Our people have suffered for a very long time. They need to be provided security and assurance of their identity and existence. None of the governments in the past took the matter seriously. All that they have been doing is to hold rounds of talks with the neighbouring State. Till date there has been no concrete steps taken to solve the matter once and for all. A well defined boundary is very important to avoid confrontation with our neighbours. If as common individuals we maintain strict and defined demarcation of our boundaries by building walls around our property isn’t it equally important to have a well defined boundary for our State? One earnestly hopes that the issue on inter-State border will not lie dormant and be brought back to life only after a bloody backlash and only to make a political point.

Yours etc.,

Jenniefer Dkhar,

Via email

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