Meghalaya lawmakers urges govt resolve land row with defence

Shillong, Oct 16 (UNI) Meghalaya lawmakers today urged the government to resolve land disputes with the defence authortities one and for all, even as Chief Minister D D Lapang assured to look into the matter.

Mr Lapang said the government had always made it a point to sort out the land disputes with army authorities.

''The government will amicably sort out the controversy,'' Mr Lapang said.

He also said the Defence estate officials have fixed October 23 to meet the state government officials to dicuss in this regard.

Earlier, moving a motion in the House on the government's failure to protect the civil land and government land from army encroachment, ruling member Pynshai Manik Syiem (IND) urged the government to conduct joint re-survey of the cantontment area in the state.

''The army is on a war-foot to fence government land in cantontment area and even doctored land documents due to lack of seriousness on the part of the state government,'' Mr Syiem said.

Urging the government to sort out the issue immediately, Mr Syiem even comtemplate to take the matter to court to resolve the matter.

Supporting Mr Syiem's motion, Hill State People's Democratic Party MLA H S Lyngdoh said the defence authorities have also claimed the picturesques golflink and Shillong Peak.

''Two-third of Shillong is already being claimed by defence authorities. The government should be serious before they encroach more into civil and government land,'' Mr Lyngdoh stated.

He asserted that the duty of the army is to protect the country and not to invade others land.

United Democratic Party MLA Mihsalan Suchiang, who also supported the motion, said the army encroachment into civil areas is distressing.

Mr Process T Sawkmie of Meghalaya Democratic Party suggested the government to sit across the table with the defence authorities for an amicable solution to the land disputes.

A total 2,413 acres of land in Meghalaya is under the possession of the defence authorities in Shillong.

UNI