Hima Nongspung accuses Assam govt of encroachment

SHILLONG: The secretary of Hima Nongspung, Michael Warjri, alleged encroachment by neighboring Assam into Meghalaya following the construction of roads and bridge.
Pointing to the road construction, Warjiri said that the construction work carried out by MLA of West Guwahati, Ramendra Narayan Kalita, is illegal as Meghalaya did not grant him permission to do so.
Speaking to mediapersons on Saturday, he said that Kalita applied for permission to construct Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) roads in Assam-Meghalaya Inter-state border at Mawdongki and Jimbrigaon, Bakhlapara on October 18 last year.
Warjri added that it was resolved in a meeting held on November 11, 2009 in Byrnihat that the government of Assam cannot proceed with any development schemes in Meghalaya without permission from the Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi District.
On the other hand, Warjri again wrote to the DC complaining about the illegal construction of Ranibari Bridge urging immediate halt to the project. In the letter, the secretary said that the construction of the bridge and the encroachment by the Assam government started on August 11 and the work is under full swing.Warjiri also complained to the Superintendent of Police, Ri-Bhoi, on the illegal permission granted by Pranab Rangsa of Ranibari village for the construction of bridge at Ranibari.
He alleged that Rangsa, without any authority, granted permission to the SDO of Assam to construct an RCC bridge at Ranibari.
“In the process of the bridge construction, the road from Ranibari to Akhoinijira to New Balakhawa constructed by former MLA of Jirang, Lambok Mylliemngap has been destroyed on August 14,” Warjri said.