TURA, Sep 22: BJP leader and Tura MDC Bernard Marak on Sunday accused the NPP led by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, of attempting to grab lands under Nokma a’kings without proper land acquisition and the consent of the nokma, which he said was a complete violation of the rights of the people as well the provisions under the Sixth Schedule of the constitution.
The BJP leader made the accusations in his complaint to Minister of the GAD Department, Rakkam A Sangma on Sunday.
“The state government under Chief Minister Conrad Sangma seems to be in a desperate attempt to grab land from Tura in complete violation of the rights of the people and not acknowledging the fact that this is a Hill area under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution. The NPP-led state government continues to target the poor population that voted for BJP and suppress the rights to avail any facilities from the Centre claiming the land as GAD land without proper acquisition,” the Tura MDC claimed. “The state government is not tribal and it cannot grab tribal lands without proper acquisition. The rights of the Hill people have been grossly violated in the past by grabbing land from the A’king area without Nokma’s consent and proper acquisition. In Tura, which happens to be the Chief Minister’s constituency, the residents in many localities have faced difficulties from availing Centre Schemes because the State Government claimed it to be a GAD land,” he further alleged.
According to Bernard, lands which were grabbed illegally by the government are from Nikwatgre to Walbakgre (1,046 bighas), ITI campus area measuring approximately 91 bighas, de-reserved area covering more than 150 bighas, Sepoy Colony and most recently, the Lepers’ Colony, which measures approximately 390 bighas.
Bernard stated that all these lands were under A’king lands and the Nokma has issued documents to most of the residents while some already have pattas. However, he added that the GHADC issued pattas to government departments without Nokma’s document which he said, amounts to gross violation of the rights of the hill tribals.
“The state government, even in the past did not acquire but used as required and that is eminent in the receipts which said requisition and not acquisition. Moreover, I have the term of the lease mentioned in the gazette and according to that, the state government was supposed to pay the Awil Fees to the A’king Nokmas which I believe the government stopped paying 40 years ago,” he said.
With regard to the Lepers’ Colony, Bernard firmly asserted that the area does not fall under GAD land in support of which a letter issued by the deputy commissioner in 2016, was reportedly forwarded to the Chief Minister. However, he said that despite that being done, staff from the State Survey or Revenue Department forcefully surveyed the Leper’s land claiming it to be a GAD land, creating mass confusion and fear among the residents.
