SHILLONG: KHADC CEM Pynshngain N Syiem has directed the people affected by border fencing to write to the KHADC following which the Executive Committee will write to the State Government and the Home Ministry.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting on Friday, Syiem said, “After a discussion, we realised that there is a need to analyse the matter seriously as land in our state is not government property but it belonged to the individual.”
The KHADC CEM added that it is up to the land owners on how they perceive the issue of border fencing.
The loss is not only due to the transfer of some parts of land that are within 11 m where the fencing will pass through but also for the people whose lands are in the midst of the 150 yards from the fencing till zero point.
“We found that in recent years the Central Government through the Home Ministry set up entrance after every 500 m. Such entrances will be used by Bangladeshis as no one can enter the areas,” Syiem said, adding that the fencing will lead to loss of land in certain areas.
“We have to take the consent of people whose lands are in 11 m perimeter in which fencing will be erected but we also have to take into account the views of the people whose lands are at the fencing till zero point,” he said.
Syiem added that at the end of the day, the compensation will be given only to the people in the 11 m areas whereas the land owners within the 150 yards are not compensated.
People present in the meeting included farmers, land owners, Sordars of various villages, Coordination Committee on International Border (CCIB) and NGOs.
