SHILLONG, May 22: Leader of Opposition in the KHADC, PN Syiem on Sunday demanded that the meeting of the coordination committee headed by Executive Member in-charge Elaka, Jambor War should be convened immediately.
Talking to The Shillong Times, Syiem said the coordination committee was constituted to advise the KHADC boundary committee on how to move forward since the NPP-led MDA government has made it clear that there will be no review of the memorandum of understanding (MoU).
He said that the council will need to take the lead like in the case of the issue of the Rangbah Shnongs.
“Strategically the five affected Himas can file the petition. But the coordination committee needs to meet to discuss the way forward,” said Syiem who is also a member of the coordination committee.
According to him, it will depend on the wisdom of the coordination committee on whether to approach the Meghalaya High Court or the Supreme Court.
KHADC MDC, Bindo Mathew Lanong said the final call on whether the council should move the court to challenge the MoU will be taken by the Executive Committee.
Admitting that a decision has been taken that the five Himas would approach the court, Lanong said the KHADC can advise and assist the Himas while preparing the petition.
Lanong also stated that the state government had made a mistake by not consulting the council and the Himas before going ahead with the MoU.
Referring to the Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Area or Svamitva Yojana launched by the Centre in 2020, he said that the state government had received a letter towards establishment of clear ownership of property, by mapping of land parcels using drone technology across India.
“The state government had reached out to the district council since they were clueless on how to deal with it. But when it comes to the MoU, the government went ahead on its own,” he pointed out.
