SHILLONG: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the State Assembly has directed the State Police to speed up the investigation into the land acquisition for Mawpalai afforestation area in Ri-Bhoi for which Rs 8 crore was paid to former Congress legislator from Umroi, SW Rymbai, despite the fact that the land was already in the possession of the Soil and Water Conservation department.
Following a review meeting of the PAC with officials of the concerned departments on the alleged land scam here on Thursday, Chairman of the Committee, Paul Lyngdoh said that the police investigation on the serious issue, which led to a loss of Rs 8 crore to the State exchequer, was tardy as it has been four years since the incident and there has been hardly any progress. The PAC had summoned several officials from the Police Department, Forest and Environment, Soil and Water Conservation, Department of Finance and Cabinet Affairs, Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi to deliberate on the progress of the investigation process.
Stating that the Police Department should pull up its socks and speed up the investigation into the alleged scam, Lyngdoh said, “We directed the police officials to expedite the investigation and the DG has assured the PAC that the complete investigation report will be submitted to the Committee within 3-4 months following which the Committee will take its further course of action.”
The PAC Chairman added that the Committee has specifically directed the Forest and Environment department to pursue the matter at the High Court since claims and counter claims on the land led to a legal battle.
“We have also given the instruction to facilitate the annulment of land acquisition proceedings and to recover the Rs 8 crore which has been collected in an illegal manner,” Lyngdoh said.
He added said that it was the duty of the State Government to ensure that the amount is recovered.
“All relevant files and documents which are in possession of the Government clearly point to the fact that the land is very much a Government land under the possession of the Social Forestry Department since the 1950s,” he said.
It may be reminded that as per the CAG report, the Forest and Environment department in March 2010 sanctioned Rs 10 crore and placed the funds in October 2010 at the disposal of DC, Ri Bhoi. Subsequently, the Revenue Department in March 2011 issued notification under Section 428 of the Land Acquisition Act (LA Act), 1894 and also invoked the urgency clause 1729 of the LA Act for speedy acquisition proceedings and accordingly, Rs 8 crore was released in June 2011.
The Mawpalai afforestation area spreads over 1.78 sq.km and lies adjacent to NH-40 between Umsaw Khwan and Lad Sumer villages.
