NONGPOH/SHILLONG/TURA, March 11: The Syiem of Raid Marwet, Ken Syiem has decided to approach the state government and the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council to reconsider and “correct” their decision on handing over lands at Khanapara to Assam.
The decision was made at a meeting which the Syiem had with the leaders of seven villages – Maikhuli, Pillangkata, Iongkhuli, Khanapara, Koinadhora, Patharkuchi and Rangsakona – at Baridua on Friday.
The traditional head claimed the lands in question fall under the jurisdiction of Raid Marwet in Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya.
The Syiem of Raid Marwet, Ken Syiem told journalists that the Dreamland Amusement Park and the Maikhuli fish pond are part and parcel of Meghalaya and they do not fall under disputed areas.
“These areas should be under Meghalaya. I wonder how the government of Meghalaya can hand over these lands to Assam,” Syiem said, adding the Transit Camp at Khanapara also falls under Meghalaya, the proof of which is a Supreme Court judgement that ruled in favour of the landowners from Meghalaya.
He stressed that the state government should consider consulting the people at the grassroots-level before going ahead.
In the Assembly, Opposition Chief Whip and All India Trinamool Congress’s Umroi MLA, George B Lyngdoh raised public’s concern over the government’s move to give away 0.27 sq km of land in Khanapara to Assam.
Welstone Marak, who is the secretary of Maikhuli village, said the fish pond of the village does not fall under the disputed area. He claimed the areas belong to Meghalaya since time immemorial. He said the locals will not allow the fish pond to be given away to Assam.
The BJP claimed Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s declaration has caused a sense of fear and insecurity among people. The party said tension is growing in most Garo-populated areas, which fall under the jurisdiction of Khasi traditional heads, bordering Assam.
BJP state vice president, Bernard Marak on Friday insisted that the border dispute with Assam should be resolved in consultations with the traditional heads and Autonomous District Councils and by taking the views of the public and stakeholders to ensure that the provisions of the Sixth Schedule are not violated.
Marak said as the traditional heads have been the custodians of the lands and hill and tribal areas have always functioned under the Sixth schedule, the state government cannot take any unilateral decision while settling the border issue.
“The traditional heads are the owners of the lands and therefore, their consent or no-objection is required on all matters pertaining to land or else, it will be a violation of the constitutional rights of the hill people,” Marak said.
“The ancestral lands, community ponds, roads etc have been declared to be part of Assam without consulting the locals, traditional heads and the local MDC,” he lamented.
The Tura MDC alleged the political conspirators are trying to mislead the public by accusing the BJP of attempting to overrule and abolish the traditional system.
“These are wild accusations against BJP’s initiative to strengthen the traditional system and empower Rural Local Bodies under Autonomous District Councils. BJP stands with the people and is determined to empower the traditional institutions and constitutional rights of the hill people,” Marak asserted.