By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government will wait for the court verdict before initiating any inquiry into the land deal related to the Mawpalai plantations in Ri-Bhoi district.
Forest Minister Prestone Tynsong on Monday said since the village authorities had approached court, the department would have to wait for the verdict before initiating any further action.
After the Forest department recently asked Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner to cancel the land acquisition proceedings related to Mawpalai plantations and get back Rs 8 crore from Umroi legislator Stanly Wiss Rymbai which was paid to him as land compensation, the Umsawkhwan villagers had sought the intervention of the court.
The Umsawkhwan villagers claimed that the forest area belonged to them and wanted the remaining amount of Rs 2 core to be paid to them since only Rs 8 crore out of Rs 10 crore were paid (to Rymbai) till date.
Tynsong said he had instructed senior forest officials to go into the details of the matter. Meanwhile, the KSU’s North Khasi Hills district unit, reiterated that State Government should institute an inquiry into the alleged clandestine deal. “We strongly condemn the Umroi legislator for misusing the fund,” KSU North Khasi Hills district president Ferdinand Kharkamni said in a statement on Monday (with inputs from Ri-Bhoi correspondent).
