By Our Reporter
Shillong, Oct 22: The KSU has warned that it will make public the names of powerful business figures that have allegedly been allotted government land in Polo.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar said the Union has been following up the matter since December 18, 2024, by filing a Right to Information (RTI) application with the Revenue Department.
However, despite repeated efforts, the department has failed to provide clear and satisfactory replies, he claimed.
Marngar said according to their findings the land in Polo which is currently fenced with blue sheet had been the subject of a legal dispute between a certain clan and the government.
“We don’t exactly remember the year, but based on available records, the court had ruled that the land belongs to the government,” he stated.
While examining official documents, the KSU said it had come across an Office Memorandum (OM) issued in 1998, which clearly states that government land cannot be allotted to private individuals, except for purposes serving the public interest.
“As far as the information available to us, the government has either sold or given away this land to a few powerful individuals in Shillong. The question is that will all government lands now be auctioned off or allotted to those who are not entitled to them?” Marngar alleged.
He asserted that the Union expects the government to utilise such land for constructing houses for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families or building hostels for students who come from various districts to study in Shillong.
“However, from what we’ve learnt, the government has allotted it to rich and influential individuals. We are still investigating the matter to uncover the truth, but most importantly, the government must clarify the issue before the public,” the KSU president said.
Marngar also questioned the motive behind fencing the land with blue sheets demanding that the government disclose its plans for the area.
“We expect the government to explain the basis for its actions, especially since an existing Office Memorandum already governs such matters. If a new one has been issued, the public deserves to know,” he said.
“Government land should not be auctioned or distributed arbitrarily. It must be used for public benefit, and as a government of the people, it has a duty to act in the public interest,” he added.
He further revealed that the KSU will explore other legal and administrative avenues to get to the bottom of the issue, particularly since the Revenue Department has not provided a definitive clarification.
“Once we obtain all the necessary documents, we will expose the truth before the public,” Marngar declared.
The KSU leader went on to allege that the government appears to prioritise the interests of a select few over that of the public.
“We don’t know what kind of connections exists between these individuals and the government, but if such links exist, those responsible must be held accountable,” he said.
Marngar added that from the information gathered so far, some government officials might also be involved.
“We still believe there are honest officers who safeguard public interests. But if they, too, are complicit, it would be deeply alarming that those entrusted with protecting public land are the ones misusing it,” he remarked.
When asked further, the KSU president that they are still verifying the names of the alleged beneficiaries and seeking to confirm whether the government has indeed allotted land to a few influential figures based in Shillong.
