NONGPOH: The Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF) on Monday expressed concerns over the government’s decision to set up entry and exit points at 19 Mer without the consent of the traditional heads here and demanded that land acquisition for the same be put on hold.
In a petition submitted to the deputy commissioner on Monday following a request of the traditional chiefs of Sirdarship of Elaka Nongpoh, the Durbar Hima and Raid Nongkylla, RBYF said the government should convene a meeting with the traditional chiefs to sort out the issue.
The petition argued that the decision to set up the proposed entry and exit points at 19 Mer under the jurisdiction of Sirdarship of Elaka Nongpoh and Lyngdoh of Raid Nongkylla should have been taken after consultation with the traditional chiefs of the area.
RBYF said it was surprising that the Sirdar of Nongpoh Elaka and the Lyngdoh of Raid Nongkylla were not made aware of any such move by the government. ‘The traditional chiefs are the authorized person to issue land patta in areas falling under their jurisdiction as per the traditional customary land laws prevailing in the Elaka of Nongpoh Sirdarship,” the statement said.
The petition also said that the particular plot of land at 19 Mer has already been notified under Section 4(2) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, which was published in the Meghalaya Gazette earlier this year.
