SHILLONG, Feb 4: State BJP vice president Bernard Marak has raised concerns over what he calls an “unconstitutional expansion” of the Tura municipality boundaries, accusing the Tura Municipal Board of overstepping its legal limits.
According to Marak, the original notification of the Tura Municipal Board, signed by the then Governor in 1978, specified that the municipal boundaries covered only 5,364 bighas. However, he claims the board has unlawfully extended its jurisdiction beyond this limit, now encompassing all of Tura and New Tura, without proper consultation or approval from the Nokmas (tribal leaders), the GHADC, or the local public.
Marak expressed concern that this expansion violates tribal rights, arguing that it is not only unlawful but also infringes on the rights of residents in these areas.
He further alleged that the GHADC had illegally transferred areas under the Tura Town Committee to the Municipal Board for civic administration without consulting the concerned stakeholders.
To address the issue, GHADC officials have initiated a joint survey of the Tura Municipal area. Marak emphasised that the survey aims to redefine the municipal boundaries in accordance with the original 1978 notification.
As a result, areas that were never part of the original scheduled area will be excluded, leading to most of Tura being removed from the municipal jurisdiction.
“The expansion of municipal jurisdiction beyond the official notification was wrong, and we will now take steps to correct it,” said Marak.
He assured that affected localities would be kept informed of the proceedings, with the GHADC and concerned MDCs playing a role in public communication.
Following the survey in Tura, similar exercises will be conducted in Williamnagar, Resu, and Baghmara to ensure that municipal boundaries across the Garo Hills adhere strictly to official notifications.
