By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Despite finding itself in a mess in its move to acquire land for the New Shillong Township (NST), the State government has made it clear land acquisition process for the project will continue.
A source from the Urban Affairs department on Monday said the survey is still going on in other areas to acquire land for the much-awaited project.
It may be mentioned that the State Government recently approved the setting up of the New Shillong Township Development Agency (NSTDA) to explore the possibility of speeding up the land acquisition process.
However, a big question was raised on the way the Government has acquired certain stretch of land for the project.
Earlier, the farmers from the area claimed that the land in possession of the Government at Mawdiangdiang was sold without their knowledge and consent by one Unikey Kharkongor of Laitumkhrah. Immediately, the Department put on hold the allocation of the controversial portion of the land to the New Shillong Township project. According sources, the Government now plans to further expand the road upto thirty metres at Diengpassoh since the road would be connected to Shillong Bypass. The State Government so far has acquired only 370.26 hectares of land at the cost of Rs 33.73 crore while the government is contemplating to acquire another 1200 hectares of land in the New Shillong Township at a total amount of Rs 800 crore.
