NONGPOH: Miffed at the proposed of the State government to acquire land at Nongsder and Pyllun villages to be handed over to Umroi (Rangmen) Cantonment in Ri Bhoi district, residents of three affected villages have begun opposing the same.
The State government intends to acquire land from the two villages and hand it over to the Umroi Cantonment in lieu of a portion of the Cantonment land which was acquired for the expansion of the Shillong Airport at Umroi.
Opposing the stand of the State government, residents of the three villages – Nongsder, Pyllun and Mawpun – under the three respective Dorbar Shnong, have resolved to strongly oppose the proposed land acquisition at Nongsder and Pyllun villages after which a joint action committee of the three Dorbar Shnong submitted a petition to the Ri Bhoi deputy commissioner and urged her to intervene into the matter by negotiating with the higher ups of the State government.
In the petition submitted to the deputy commissioner, the three Dorbar Shnong have strongly opposed the land acquisition plan stating that the land proposed to be acquired by the government is agriculture land consisting of paddy fields and all the farmers, who depend on the land for their livelihood, would be severely affected.
It was also stated in the petition that if the land is acquired by the government more than 20 households residing in the proposed land will be displaced.
“Even the football field belonging to Nongsder village which is the only sports facility available to the talented youths of the village will be affected,” the petition said. The petition further urged the Ri Bhoi deputy commissioner to discuss the matter with the State government to cancel the proposed land acquisition so that the villagers are not affected.
