By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 12: State BJP vice president and Tura MDC Bernard N Marak on Thursday said the offices and official residences of the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police in Tura do not have pattas, according to information obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Referring to the RTI response, Marak stated that the land on which the Deputy Commissioner’s office functions is recorded under the GHADC Dag as Sheet No. 7. He said that while the Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) has surveyed A’king land, the office itself does not possess a patta and is functioning on land recorded through a dag number under the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
He further said that, as per the RTI information, the Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) does not have authority over issuance of patta, as land in the area is recorded and governed by the GHADC through dag numbers.
Marak added that the RTI indicated that the GHADC has no record of any land acquisition in Tura.
He also stated that 19 localities in Tura and Nikwatgre are listed in a petition filed by the Akhing Nokma and that the matter is pending before the court. Despite this, he alleged that periodic lease pattas are being issued without the consent of the Nokma and the GHADC, raising questions over their validity. He further alleged that the move is linked to the upcoming MDC elections.
