Allotment of land to bureaucrats
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The former Home minister Robert Garnett Lyngdoh on Monday broke his silence over the then State Government’s decision of allotting land to bureaucrats that has been drawing a lot of flak lately.
Since the land was allotted during his tenure as urban affairs minister of the state, Lyngdoh on Monday appealed for an amicable settlement to the matter that has been castigated by different stakeholders.
While urging all concerned to look towards the future “more positively,” Lyngdoh asserted that the land was allotted since the then government felt that some stake ought to be given to the bureaucrats working in the State.
“At that point of time, the officers drew a lot of flak from several quarters for being ‘suitcase bureaucrats’ more interested in flying to Delhi at the drop of a hat. Also they were accused of not being loyal to the State as they would come here only to complete their stint and then return, so obviously their commitment level towards the State was questioned,” Lyngdoh said.
According to Lyngdoh, the bureaucrats formed a cooperative society and were allotted the land at prevailing market prices.
“So I don’t understand why so much noise now.” Lyngdoh questioned.
The former home minister said it was not a happy situation for a bureaucrat who has served Meghalaya for 35-36 years having to return to their native places where they are compelled to live a lonely retired life.
It may be mentioned that the CAG report for the year ending March 31, 2011 had pointed out that, “Unauthorised allotment of land to the Civil Service Officers Housing Cooperative Society Limited and incorrect fixation of premium at a lower rate, resulted in undue financial benefit of Rs 78.42 lakh to the society.”
According to Lyngdoh, the Government had also mulled the idea of allotting land to academicians as well. “We felt at the time that it would encourage the growth of a satellite township which would ease the pressure on the capital city. The satellite township will not take off unless someone starts a township there and the bureaucrats’ society is keen to develop roads and other infrastructure,” Lyngdoh said.
While reminding that private developers had tried to initiate the growth of such a township in the outskirts of Shillong but that the initiative had bombed, Lyngdoh felt that “the development of such cooperative housing societies would pave the way for expansion of Shillong and that is the only way to ease out congestion.”
Lyngdoh pointed out that several leading institutions like IIM Shillong are developing their campuses in the New Shillong Township and that Dr Mukul Sangma had also allocated 2 acres of land to the Meghalaya Table Tennis Association for starting a Table Tennis Academy for the North East. “These are good initiatives and we should not look a gift horse in the mouth. I cannot understand this petty mindset and the hue and cry over the allocation of land to bureaucrats,” Lyngdoh added.