SHILLONG: A delegation of traditional heads and residents of villages under Raid Marwet has demanded that authorities concerned should cancel the land registration of Deilang Chirup Law covering an area of 12,000 acres asserting that 7413 acres of the land will be sold to BSF to set up a firing range.
Spokesperson of Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong, Umtyrnga, Marcus Lapasam said the registration of land is illegal as he said that the 12,000 acres of land was being encroached upon by Law.
The integrity of Hima Mylliem and Raid Marwet came under scanner when he found out that the Hima Mylliem and Raid Marwet have sought a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on March 22, 2019.
Showing the letter bearing the letter head of office of Syiem of Hima Mylliem and Dorbar, he said that the office of Hima Mylliem wrote to the CEM of KHADC requesting an approval from the Council to the Hima Mylliem to issue NOC to Law with regard to the land in Nagrabil, Pilangku-A and Pilangku-B, Raid Marwet, Hima Mylliem.
The letter showed that Law claimed ownership of the 7413 acres of land. However, Lapasam said that the 12,000 acres of land is agricultural lands and the people will be forced to evacuate it.
Lapasam said that in the letter to the Council, the office Syiem of Hima Mylliem said that it received Law’s letter on March 13, 2019 requesting for NOC for selling off ‘his’ land to the BSF for setting up a firing range.
“There is full support of Hima Mylliem and Raid Marwet to give approval for land for setting up BSF camp”, Lapasam said. He informed 20 villages will be affected if the land is being given away.
On the other hand, he said a complaint has been lodged with the Hima Mylliem with copy to local MLA and Deputy Commissioner, Ri-Bhoi on the illegal selling of land.
He said that the agents claimed that the land is no man’s land and intends to sell it. He refuted this argument and said there are records in the census, statistics and Health department, and said the lands are agricultural lands of the people living in Raid Marwet.
“The agents said that there will be no effect on agricultural lands. But we still demand the cancellation of land registration of Law”, Lapasam said.
He also said that a Non- encumbrance certificate was issued by sub-registrar office, Ri-Bhoi. He said no public hearing and social observation was held.
In this connection, he said that the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) should take the matter seriously as he maintained that the place is not safe and secure alleging the surreptitious activities of Hima Mylliem and Raid Marwet.
Asked, Lapasam said 1 acre of land for Rs 65,000 while the 12,000 acres is being sold for Rs 78 crore.
He threatened that the traditional heads will take the law in their hands alleging that the authorities concerned violated the law.
He said that the KHADC has not issued any certificate.
