Residents of Leper colony in WGH oppose land acquisition

TURA, Sep 15: Residents from Leprosy Colony has opposed the move by the government to measure land from the colony as GAD land asserting that the locality does not fall under it as clarified by an erstwhile Deputy Commissioner of the district some years ago.
In their letter of objection addressed to Chief minister Conrad Sangma, the residents highlighted a letter written to the GHADC supposedly by then Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi, clarifying that the colony is not under GAD land. A copy of the letter with Bakshi’s signature albeit, without the official seal, was also submitted along with the letter.
“Your move to grab land belonging to the lepers is against the provisions of the Sixth Schedule and clearly violates our right to live, our right over land and property. The state government cannot grab land in the Sixth Schedule area as it is a general entity and acquisition has to be carried out as per the act,” they stated.
The residents, while urging that the move for acquisition be stopped, also warned that it would move court as well as appeal to the Human Rights Commission.