Meghalaya govt disagree to Defence rules on land acquisition

Shillong, Apr 10 (UNI) Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister, in-charge Finance, Donkupar Roy today said the government refuses to agree to the conditions of the Defence authorities on land aquisition here.

Replying to a discussion on 2007-08 Budget in the Assembly, Dr Roy said ''Though government is willing to pay compensation for acquisition of Defence land they want equal areas of land.'' Dr Roy said the government had taken up the matter to the 'highest level' and few Defence plots have been acquired for developmental projects and a few more were identified for the same.

Recently, the Defence authorities hinted that they would agree to part with Defence land only if compensation would be in equal areas of land.

Shillong, the headquarter for several Defence establishments including the Assam Rifles, Assam Regimental Centre, Eastern Air Command and other para-military forces, occupies vast areas of open land in and around the city.

On the increasing traffic congestion in the city, Dr Roy admitted there was ''absolutely no more space'' for widening of the existing roads. The only way was to cut down the number of vehicles, he added.

''The government is considering the introduction of subsidised school buses under the Mass Transport System mooted in the Budget as traffic congestion reaches it peak during school hours,'' he asserted.

However, Dr Roy informed that the government had also taken up with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for an early construction of the Shillong by-pass.

He said state government had earmarked Rs 18000 lakhs for repair and construction of roads this fiscal.

UNI