SHILLONG, June 20: RTI activist Disparsing Rani has criticised the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) for failing to provide information on the land documents of Harijan Colony residents at Them Iew Mawlong.
He had filed an RTI application seeking information on the documents submitted by the Harijan Colony residents when they had applied for electricity connection.
“I had sought the RTI information from the MeECL on April 1 this year. However, it hasn’t been able to furnish the information till date,” Rani told reporters on Monday.
Stating that he has again sought the information, the activist said if the MeECL fails to share it within the prescribed time according to the RTI Act, then he will be forced to lodge a complaint with the Chief Information Commissioner.
Rani said he had sought the information on the documents as the Harijan Colony residents claimed they have been the owner of the land in question since 1853. “If the residents are the landowners, then the Syiem of Mylliem would have given them a land patta. The MeECL should have a copy of it as it is mandatory to submit a photocopy of land patta for electricity connection,” Rani said.
Asking if the land is still in the custody of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) or the Syiem of Mylliem, he said the residents must have obtained the NOC from either the board or the Syiem of Mylliem while applying for electricity connection.
The activist said he had sought a copy of the NOC and the land document which the Harijan Colony residents must have submitted.
But if the residents are not the actual owners of the land, then the authority lies with the Syiem of Mylliem and the SMB as per the agreement signed in 1954 between Joymanik Syiem and L Pal who was the then vice chairman of the board, Rani said.
“As per the agreement, if the SMB violated any of the norms, then the Syiem of Mylliem has the power to take back the land,” he added.
