SHILLONG: Residents of as many as 14 villages, Rangbah Shnong and local NGOs on Tuesday issued a two-week deadline to the State Government to come out with a written assurance of stopping land acquisition for the proposed New Shillong Township (NST) Project along the Mawdiangdiang stretch till Diengpasoh village.
The decision was taken at a public gathering held at Diengpasoh here on Tuesday where the villagers firmly resolved to protest against the NST project terming the same as an attempt to snatch their land and livelihood.
The villagers observed that the game played by the government was an eye-wash in the name of development.
“The State Government is wrong in thinking that the NST project would usher in development,” RTI activist Angela Rangad said, adding that development should first be brought to the villages.
“People deserve better roads, health care centres and educational institutions and the Government cannot play with the livelihood of the people in the name of development,” Rangad asserted.
She also stated that if the government was really concerned about development then it should consider developing the agricultural sector, which provides livelihood to the rural populace. She also observed that practicing dictatorship in a democratic country will not be entertained at any cost while reiterating that the government cannot forcefully take away the land without the consent of the people.
Rangbah Shnong of Mawkdup village, W Nongdhar, observed that the State Government should have consulted the people before announcing the NST land acquisition plan since, “people have the right to decide what they want to do with their lands”.
He also affirmed that they would not give up their land since it concerned the future generations also. FKJGP president Joe Marwein said the NST project would invite influx since the government would hand over the NST land to big companies resulting in an inflow of immigrants.