SHILLONG: Following the move of the West Garo Hills district administration to take on the encroachers at Tura, the ANVC-B has hinted that making Tura “a general area” has resulted in encroachments.
“Tura is part of Danakgre Aking under Nokma since the British time but someone manipulated the provisions of the Sixth Schedule 40 years ago by introducing Mauza X and declaring Tura as a general area,” ANVC-B leader Bernard Rimpu Marak alleged.
According to Marak, the tribal residents of Tura are treated as general citizens and pay taxes to municipal and GHADC for the same land. “We want to know how a tribal land can be declared a general area and under what provision? A land under Aking land cannot be a Khas Mahal nor can it be under Mauza X which is a violation of our constitutional rights over land,” he said.
Introduction of Mauza X led to violation of tribal authority over land, encouraging encroachments. It also opened avenues for introduction of municipality in the Sixth Schedule area which is another violation on our rights, he said. Any decision on land under Aking should get the consent from Nokma.
