Oppn slams EC for eviction delay at Aradonga plantation

SHILLONG: The Opposition on Thursday slammed the Executive Committee (EC) of the KHADC for its alleged failure to complete the eviction drive in the Council’s plantation at Aradonga in West Khasi Hills.
While raising the issue during the Question Hour on the fourth day of the Council’s budget session, Congress MDC (Laitumkhrah), Antonio War rapped the EC for the delay in eviction of illegal encroachers even after the court’s ruling on the issue went in favour of the Council.
Another Congress MDC, Jansing Tynsong said that as per the reports available with him, encroachment is still going on in the Aradonga plantation. Tynsong also questioned the delay to complete the eviction exercise which began in August last year.
In reply, KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum informed that all illegal structures along the plantation have been demolished and only the betel nut plantation taken up by the encroachers is yet to be removed.
“We will demolish the entire betel nuts plantation within a short period of time,” Nongrum said adding that the beetle-nut trees were already mature and hence it was difficult for the Enforcement Wing of the Council to remove them.
He also informed that the Council has received funds from the State Forest and Environment department to erect boundary pillars along the plantation and Rs 30 lakh has been earmarked for the same.