SHILLONG: The Hima Mylliem has asserted that it has sought the approval from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) with regard to the permission for selling off land to the BSF. However, there has been no response from the KHADC yet.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Pa’iem Ainam Manik Syiem clarified to the allegations made by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on the sale of land at a whooping amount of Rs 1000 crore to the BSF.
He said the land owner, C. Law sought permission and he secured the NOC from traditional heads of the adjacent villages to give away land to the BSF.
He also sought NOC to Syiem Raid who in turn sought the approval from Hima Mylliem. “On our part after discussion with the executive members of the Dorbar, we approached the KHADC for its approval. Till now, the KHADC has not responded to Hima,” Syiem said.
He added, “It is surprising to see that such allegations are brought against the traditional heads and the Dorbar as a whole to say that there is a sale of land. This is disappointing.”
Syiem informed that Hima Mylliem had no land on its own but land mostly comprises of the Raid land and private lands. The Syiem cannot interfere in matters of private lands.
He urged Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) general secretary Donald Thabah to reach out to the Syiem before coming out with allegations against the Syiem and Dorbar.
He said the selling of land to non-tribal is under the purview of the Land Transfer Act in Meghalaya and that the Syiem and the Dorbar have nothing to do with it.
It may be mentioned that KSU central executive council (CEC) opposed the move of the Raid Marwet and Hima Mylliem sell the land at Lakhra-Beltola to Border Security Force (BSF).
In a statement issued here, Thabah said the union has been informed that the land at Lakhra, which is about 1,000 hectares, was intended to give away to the BSF by the Hima Mylliem and the Raid Marwet at a whooping amount of Rs 1,000 crore.