By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Wednesday claimed that there is a difference in the opinions of the residents belonging to over 20 villages regarding the proposed move of the state government to acquire land for the New Shillong Township (NST) Project.
Stating that many headmen have come forward and approached the government in this regard, Lyngdoh said the reply from their side is positive, with no objection as all they want is sustainable development.
Coming down hard on the opposing group, Lyngdoh said that there is ambiguity in the resentment expressed by those opposing the land acquisition for the NST project. “There is huge ambiguity in the manner the project is being opposed,” she added.
Maintaining that the government has no hidden agenda except providing sustainable development, the urban affairs minister said that the government is in no hurry to carry out the project if the people are opposing it.
This project suffered a setback when villagers and pressure groups has opposed the land acquisition of 2000 acres spread across Mawdiangdiang to Diengpasoh for the NST project and had sought the help of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) demanding to pass a resolution and put a moratorium on the acquisition.
Reiterating on the need for the affected villagers to come forward and submit their grievances in black and white, Lyngdoh said “It is always easy to solve the problem if the matter is communicated in a better way and not by agitating and protesting.”
When asked whether the opposition to the project is an NGO-driven agenda or not, Lyngdoh said “I don’t know whether those voicing their opposition are genuine or not.”
“The government has no hidden agenda except providing sustainable development through the New Shillong Township project,” she said while bringing out the irony that if the land is of the Government, the question of development does not arise but if it is a private land, then the question of unplanned development will set in.
Lyngdoh has urged upon the people to think positively taking a cue from the present situation, mistakes made and lessons learnt adding that “We should take note of the present condition of the congested Shillong city and look forward towards a better, well-planned city, the same of which will be appreciated by our future generation in the years to come.”
On the other hand, CSWO President Agnes Kharshiing has maintained that the procedure in which the government is planning to acquire the land is questionable.
Mentioning that the government had already acquired 914 acres of land for this purpose, Kharshiing alleged that out of the land acquired, 285 acres has been purchased from one Unikey Kharkongor and Nearly Kharkongor through forged documents.
CSWO President further alleged that an amount of more than Rs 10 crore have been paid by the government to these two persons for the 914 acres of land for this project, a huge sum of money which belongs to the public.
Kharshiing also informed that with the case being registered, the two persons had applied for anticipatory bail on June 7, the hearing of which will be held on June 21.
“We urge the police to investigate the case properly to ensure that the public money spent by the Government could be recovered at the same time to send a strong message to the corrupt bureaucrats, not to play around with people’s money,” Kharshiing added.
It may be mentioned that the government had expressed willingness to accept suggestions and grievances from the affected villagers on the issue in ‘black and white’ after as many as 14 villages, Rangbah Shnong and local NGOs issued a two-week deadline to the State Government to come out with a written assurance of stopping land acquisition for the proposed NST Project along the Mawdiangdiang stretch till Diengpasoh village.