Syiem, Shylla & Basaiawmoit address gathering at Laitkor
SHILLONG: P.N Syiem, H.S Shylla and Ardent Basaiawmoit on Tuesday came together on the same platform to address the contentious issue of MUDA encroachment on suburban and rural areas.
Addressing the huge gathering at Laitkor football ground on Tuesday, HSPDP MLA Basaiawmoit said, “We will not allow MUDA to encroach even an inch of the rural areas. MUDA building bye laws should not be implemented in Laitkor.”
The leader said the contentious issue of MUDA encroachment should be studied carefully by legal experts as the public should not be misled. Tuesday’s programme was organised by Laitkor Dorbar Pyllun.
Shylla, the UDP MDC from Nongkrem, drew the attention of the public to Tirot Sing Syiemlieh who was instrumental in filing the PIL seeking implementation of the building bye laws in the entire Shillong Master Plan areas.
“The PIL was misused. Why it is that only one person filed a PIL? For any PIL to be filed, a public meeting should be held to pass a resolution.
“The PIL is against the wishes of the people,” he said and stressed on the need to find details about Syiemlieh and his political patronage.
Questioning MUDA’s move to encroach till Laitkor and Umphyrnai, Shylla blamed “inefficient lawyers” for taking MUDA encroachment to rural areas.
Shylla alleged that renowned lawyer VGK Kynta, who was appointed by him during his tenure as CEM, was removed by Basaiawmoit. “Why was Kynta removed? KHADC should bring in some of the best lawyers,” he said and demanded that the PIL be withdrawn and the advocate general of the State Government be removed.
Urban Affairs Minister Ronnie Lyngdoh, who was supposed to address the gathering on Tuesday, was absent.
KHADC Chief Executive Member Syiem called for unity in dealing with the matter and pitched for legal advice to contest MUDA’s move.
Asserting that KHNAM, UDP, HSPDP and independent MDCs are united on the issue, Syiem said, “We have to safeguard our future as per the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.”
Meanwhile, VGK Kynta, reacting to Shylla’s claim that he was removed by Ardent Basaiawmoit, said, “I was not removed. I resigned voluntarily not waiting for Basaiawmoit to throw me out.”
Stating that his working style is different, he said, “I believe in the theory that honesty and integrity are not the best policy but the only policy to avoid unwanted situations. I resigned from the post of senior Standing Counsel of KHADC even before Basaiawmoit took over as CEM.”
He added that when Basaiawmoit took over as CEM, Kynta was requested to hang on till a new person is appointed which he conceded till his resignation was formally accepted.