TURA, Aug 1: The Association for Democracy and Empowerment (ADE) has demanded holding of discussions before any decision is taken on lands under B-Mahal areas.
Maintaining that all concerned leaders of Meghalaya and the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) should discuss the issue with public leaders, a’king nokmas and pressure groups from Garo Hills region, the Association has threatened of state-wide protests lest its demand is not met.
“We have learnt that lands within B-Mahal areas under West and North Garo Hills have been sold or handed over to the MIDC Meghalaya Industrial development Corporation (MIDC) and the Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) without any prior information to the people living in those areas, even as the current Executive Committee in the GHADC has deliberately steered clear of any discussion on the floor of the House during the recent Council session,” ADE president Dalseng Bira Ch Momin said.
It may be recalled that Opposition MDCs had, during the recent GHADC session, moved the motion for discussion on the B-Mahal areas, which was rejected by the MDCs from the ruling dispensation, coercing the former into staging a walkout.
“If there are any loopholes in any procedure, that loophole could be ratified through these democratic discussions. So why are the people in power in the GHADC evading the discussion?” Momin asked.
Pointing out that people from the affected B-Mahal areas are concerned over the alleged deal made by the GHADC, Momin demanded that the issue be immediately discussed with the concerned stakeholders, while warning that the Association would be compelled to join hands with other organisations to hold protests across the state if the demands are not met.
