By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 24: A Meghalaya government-constituted committee is currently inspecting the areas, including those under the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, to examine if forest land-grabbing occurred as reported by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court of India.
The CEC report, submitted to the Registrar of the Supreme Court on September 15, states that USTM illegally occupied 13.62 hectares of deemed forest land in one phase and 12.13 hectares in another, in clear violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
The CEC, which advises the Supreme Court on environmental and forest compliance, has recommended a cumulative penalty of Rs 150.35 crore on USTM for diversion of forest land against all rules and without prior approval.
In its submission, the Meghalaya government said that land allocation to the USTM was done as per rules and fines were imposed in case of any violations which were realised too.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday said the committee, headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi, will go into all the details and inspect the sites and submit its report to the government. Tynsong said during the course of inspection, the committee found illegal mining across Ri-Bhoi and recommended that all mining, quarrying and stone crushing activities in the district be suspended till an official review is conducted.
The CEC order was issued based on a petition filed by BJP leader and Assam resident, Jitul Deka, questioning the land ownership in Meghalaya.
In protest, thousands of residents from villages in Killing, Ri-Bhoi, on Tuesday rallied against the petition.
The protest erupted at Jorbil ground and was organised by the All Killing Durbar Committee, representing 12 villages of the area.
Speakers at the gathering alleged that the petition amounted to interference in territory that belongs to local communities, traditional institutions and landowners of the state. They expressed concern that such legal challenges could disturb peace and stability in the border belt.
