TURA: With reports of nearly 300 families from outside permanently settling in Wadagokgre Archaeological site in West Garo Hills, the Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) on Thursday sought their immediate eviction from Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh.
In a letter to the DC, the committee claimed that the interlopers most probably belong to neighbouring Assam or Bangladesh, who trespassed on the Archaeological site in the aftermath of the recent floods.
“This sudden spurt of encroachment into the historical site has alarmed the indigenous locals including Nokmas concerned and the civil society leaders. It is undeniable that hundreds if not thousands of illegal migrants take shelter in those areas every year in the guise of flood victims during monsoon while enjoying the relief given by the Government of Meghalaya. But despite the recede in floodwaters, they never left the place, and rather settled in and around the village, which is a threat to the fragile demography of the local populace and environment as well,” Chairman of the GSMC, Nikman Ch Marak, said.
The GSMC also pointed out the dire need to detect and deport the illegal settlers back to their places of origin before they sneak into other places, cautioning that delaying the same would not be a wise move.
The committee suggested that a proper mechanism needs to be put in place to check unabated encroachment into the historical site at Wadagokgre and the entire Bhaitbari village as a whole to prevent indiscriminate exploitation of fragile ecology in the form of excavation for brick works and stone-crushing purposes without the prior clearance/permission from the authorities concerned.
“Hundreds of these migrants may be engaged in those work places as cheap labourers. Such illegal activities have become a regular affair in the entire region which needs to be done away with to ensure future existence of the indigenous tribal people and the conservation of environment and historical sites as well,” the committee said.
