SHILLONG: The Executive Committee (EC) of the KHADC has come under criticism from the Congress-led Opposition for declaring the Law Syiem at Lum Mawpat a protected forest (“Law Adong”) without the consent of the Dorbar Hima of Mylliem Syiemship.
Participating in the general discussion on the budget speech on the fourth day of the Council’s reassembled budget session, Opposition leader Pynshngain N Syiem said he failed to understand the urgency behind such a move which has left many of the Myntri (officers) of Mylliem Syiemship unhappy.
“The EC could have mobilised support of the Myntri including the Syiem before declaring it as a protected forest,” Syiem said.
Echoing similar views, Ranikor Congress MDC Manstudy Nongrem said that the EC should have garnered support before taking any final call on the matter.
“It gives a wrong impression about the intention of the Council when there is opposition to any of its major decision on any critical issue,” Nongrem said.
In reply, KHADC CEM Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said that the EC has taken this decision in the best interest of the people.
“The Syiemship or Hima are only the custodian of the forest areas which belong to the people,” he said.
The KHADC CEM added that the purpose of declaring Law Syiem as a protected forest is to thwart the move to convert the land into private property of some Myntris of Mylliem Elaka which would have eventually resulted in the disappearance of the lush pine forest.