NONGPOH, Dec 21: A joint action committee comprising 30 villages was formed at Lumnongrim Dewlieh on Wednesday to oppose the relocation of the office of the Block Development Officer of Umsning, from Lum Nongrim Dewlieh to Lum Umpih.
The JAC also has the support of several pressure groups such as the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF), Confederation of Ri Bhoi People (CORP) and Hynnietrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO).
Headman of Lumnongrim Dewlieh R Kharkrang was appointed as the chairman of the committee, and Dondor Marbaniang as general secretary.
It may noted that Umsning C&RD Block has decided to shift the department from Lum Nongrim to Lad Umpih citing that the current location is congested and has caused undue hardships to the people visiting the office due to non-availability of parking area as well as slow internet connection.
Speaking to media persons, the JAC members along with the leaders of the three pressure groups slammed the decision to relocate the BDO’s office without taking into consideration the opinion of the Rangbah Shnong as well as the general public who fall under the jurisdiction of the C&RD Block.
According to them, there is no meaning to shifting the office as the new location only has an area of two acres while the existing location pans across more than 10 acres.
Interestingly, the leaders stated that they smell a rat in the BDO’s move to shift the office.
The JAC has decided to submit a memorandum of opposition to the relocation bid to the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya, the C&RD Minister and the local MLA of Umsning, and also demand the removal of the BDO of Umsning.
