SHILLONG: The KHADC has constituted Khasi Hills Special Boundary Committee (KHSBC), for the specific purpose of gathering detailed information relating to various problems prevailing along the inter-State border including the alleged encroachment by Assam into the areas owned by the council.
The council’s executive member in-charge, Elaka KP Pangngiang will head the committee, while KHADC joint secretary RS Wanniang was named as its secretary.
The other members of the committee include MDCs of the constituencies along the inter-State border and the traditional chiefs representing various Himas and Sirdarships.
“We have constituted this committee to ascertain the problems prevailing in the villages along the inter-State border. We would also try to locate the actual areas of the various Himas and Sidarships which have been encroached by Assam,” Pangngiang told reporters following his meeting with the various traditional chiefs here on Wednesday.
“Various Himas and Sirdarships have been asked to submit in details about the villages which have been encroached by Assam, he said.
“We have also sought information from the traditional institutions of the villages where people have registered their land with Assam,” Elaka said.
The executive member further informed that the Himas have been asked to start the process of registration of the land in the villages under their respective jurisdiction.
“This is one of the possibilities to ensure that the land within the jurisdiction of the Council is not registered with Assam. After the registration of the land by the Hima, the KHADC can initiate the process of Land Record to stop any further encroachment into the areas of the council,” he stated.
Elaka added that the council has also instructed the Hima not to lease out any portion of the land within their jurisdiction to any non-tribal entity for either setting up industries or any other purpose.
“We have seen in the past that many of the non-tribals have been able to mislead the poor villagers in obtaining lease to serve their own selfish motive,” Pangngiang said.
He said that they wanted to complete this exercise in order to obtain full details about the status of areas under the Council along the inter-State border within a period of six months.
“The committee will organize a sitting every three months to discuss the problems prevailing along the border villages,” Elaka said.
