TURA, Oct 31: The Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) from Pedaldoba along with the Raksamgre regional unit of the Garo Students’ Union (GSU) on Sunday expressed dissatisfaction with the clarification issued by the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Benedic R Marak, on B Mahal areas pointing out that some points were confusing and unclear to the people.
“GHADC CEM Benedict R Marak has given unclear and doubtful clarifications on October 29. He has given misinformation to the people that the GHADC paid the Bijini a sum of Rs 13 lakhs for lands of Mechpara sans documents. The Bijini zamindar encroached and migrated into Garo Hills in the last 17th to early 18th centuries then how encroachers and immigrants (Bijini) can be declared as owners of Mechpara. On the northern borders of the Garo Hills, estates of Karaibari, Mechpara and Kalumalupara was the permanent settlement of Garos and paid the revenue for land in 1793,” a joint statement issued by the organisations said.
The organisations claimed that the CEM clarified only two issues — the proposal for the Solar Park and the Meghalaya Battalion Camp — but kept silent on the matter of proposals for one time settlement and intentions to sell off B Mahal land to the Israeli company.
“We strongly oppose as well as condemn the clarification as it is unclear to the people residing in B Mahal areas. We stand in solidarity with the stakeholders and will continue to oppose any injustice,” the groups added.