Land acquisition on in Ri Bhoi despite resistance

NONGPOH/ SHILLONG: Despite opposition the State government is continuing its efforts to acquire land at Nongsder village in Ri Bhoi district for handing it over to the Army authorities in lieu of the land shared by the Army authorities for the expansion of the Shillong Airport at Umroi.
An official said the land acquisition process is going on and due compensation will be paid to the affected landowners.
According to the official, if any person has complaints, they can approach the compensation court on the matter.
Earlier peeved over the ‘give and take policy’ between the State government and Rangmen Cantonment Army in Ri Bhoi district, four villages of the district registered their stiff opposition over the proposed handing over the land at Nongsder village to the Army.
The Rangmen Cantonment sacrificed its land for the ongoing expansion of Umroi Airport with the agreement that the State government will compensate the Army with alternative land in the area, for which the State government had proposed to hand over the land located at Nongsder village.
The villages which opposed the proposed land deal between the government and the Rangmen Cantonment  include the Dorbar Shnong of Nongsder, Pyllun and Mawpun who raised their opposition against the land deal during the public meeting held at Nongsder last month which was attended by hundreds of villagers who extended their support to the Dorbar Shnong and resolved not to part with even an inch of their land.