Meghalaya Govt ready to resurvey Defence land if necessary

Shillong, Jul 5 (UNI) The Meghalaya government would consider to redemarcate the Indian Air Force (IAF) land here if necessary, informed Deputy Chief Minister Donkupar Roy in the Assembly today.

To a supplementary question asked by Independent MLA Pynshai Manik Syiem during the Question hour, Dr Roy, in-charge of Revenue, said in the past there was a petition filed by one lady over the land controversy against the IAF and later was sorted out between the two entities amicably.

Admitting that the IAF imposed road restriction on people visiting Shillong Peak and residing in the nearby areas for using the road within the IAF area, Dr Roy said road restrictions were made due sensitive installation of radars and other security equipment within the area.

However, the Deputy Chief Minister informed the House that the government would request the IAF to relax the road restriction, saying another option for the government was to identify a new road alignment outside the Indian Air Force land.

He said the state government was at liberty to negotiate with the IAF authorities to sort any problem despite the state has no direct control over Defence land.

Earlier, to a query asked by Meghalaya Democratic Party MLA Process T Sawkmie, Dr Roy said the total area of land acquired by the IAF near the Shillong Peak was 178.564 acre more or less in 1964-65.

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