Govt proposal for ANVC-B designated camp in WKH draws flak
NONGSTOIN: The State Government decision to allow a designated camp of the ANVC-B to be set up in West Khasi Hills District has evoked stinging criticism from the KHNAM, HSPDP and the local headmen of various villages in the district, besides the NGOs.
“The government’s proposal to set up the camp will further embolden the ANVC-B, which has created a reign of terror in the district by openly extorting from the coal quarries and the coal-laden trucks,” said Petrus Hashah, president of All Lyngngam Organization (ALO).
“We the people of Lyngngam have been living in the border areas of South West Khasi Hills and East Garo Hills districts since time immemorial maintaining close bonds with the Garo people, who themselves are opposed to the idea of an ANVC-B designated camp in our district,” he added.
KHNAM MDC Adelbert Nongrum said, “The ANVC-B need not disrupt the peace and harmony of the Khasi people. The Khasis are peace-loving people and do not desire violence. KHANM is not trying to politicize the issue of the designated camp in Khasi Hills.”
Nongrum also came down heavily on the 36 Khasi and Jaintia MLAs, saying that they have remained mute spectators on the issue. “Although the people have voted them to power they are reckless concerning the lives of the people of the Khasi and Hills,” he said.
“As per the statement of the ANVC-B few months ago, Dr. Mukul Sangma became the Chief Minister only with the help from the ANVC. Now he has succumbed to the pressure of the ANVC-B to set up the designated camp in West Khasi Hills as the district is rich in coal and has the potential for extortion,” he added.
The meeting also decided to set up a vigilant committee that would pursue the matter with the government by submitting a memorandum.
Meanwhile, the HSPDP West Khasi Hills district unit also held a meeting at its office at Nongstoin which was attended by party supremo Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, Mawshynrut MLA Witting Mawsor, Rambrai MLA KP Pangniang, Nongstoin MDC LG Nongsiej and other party members.
After the meeting, Mawsor informed The Shillong Times that they have decided to oppose the proposed designated camp of the ANVC-B in West Khasi Hills District. He also appealed to the NGOs, headmen, Nokma and people of the district to stand united against the proposed designated camp.
He added that the HSPDP would soon submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister to voice their opposition against the proposed designated camp.
He also made it clear that if the government persisted with the proposal for the camp, they would also take recourse to their own method of action.