The Voice of Peoples’ Party (VPP) must be commended for rising to the occasion and pointing to the serious flaws in the traditional Khasi land-holding system. Meghalaya is perhaps the only tribal state where community land and even protected forests (Law Adong) are increasingly being sold off to a tribal elite to set up their mansions since land in Shillong is now scarce. VPP Chief Ardent Basaiawmoit and his team visited the Mawpat forest where evidently some MLAs have managed to secure plots for themselves inside the protected forest. Basaiawmoit is correct in stating that ordinary citizens find it difficult to acquire land for building a home so why should special privileges be extended to elected representatives? Protected forests are also catchments on which the residents of Shillong rely for their water sustenance.
In an agreement signed in 2014, the former Syiem of Hima Mylliem, Latho Manik Syiem had declared the forest measuring 1700 acres in Mawpat a “Law Adong” (Protected Forest). The forest was earlier handed over to the Soil and Conservation Department for regeneration and conservation for a 20-year period after which it was handed back to the Mylliem Syiemship. In 2014 the Khasi Hills District Council and Syiem of Mylliem signed a pact to conserve this forest. A plaque stating the following commitment was erected and placed in the forest but was uprooted. The plaque states, “We cannot impose our wills on Nature and man is no law giver to nature. Nature gets its power from the power of God. Nature is the living, visible garment of God. With this conviction and sense of responsibility we solemnly dedicate this forest on this day.
The plaque was put up on June 5, 2014 and the names of Ardent Basaiawmoit the then CEM, KHADC and Latho Manik Syiem, the then Syiem of Hima Mylliem are prominently displayed. That a road has been constructed right through the forest without the knowledge of the KHADC – the custodian of community forests is a grave offence demanding stringent action. The team also saw other constructions inside the forest which indicate that the KHADC has not exerted its authority as a custodian of community properties for which it was elected as per the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Mawpat forest is located in the peri-urban area and therefore the intent to convert it to private land was detected. What about the thousands of acres of forests in West Khasi Hills where depredation is happening at a rapid pace due to charcoal burning. This is happening even as the ordinary Khasi tribal people find themselves reduced to landless tenants with no authority to turn to, to help protect their rights. Ignorance and lack of awareness is a serious disease. People believe they are born landless and don’t seek help from the KHADC. The Syiems who are supposed to be the benefactors of common people are often the ones who slyly parcel off community land (Ri-Raid) to affluent tribal elites. This is happening in the New Shillong Township where an MLA/minister owns most of the land. How did the community come to this pass? And where are the protective mechanisms? The KHADC needs a wake-up call for rapid action to reclaim community forests.
