Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) Deputy CEM, Nikman Marak today visited Phulbari after various NGOs from the area raised concerns over illegal occupation of the district council land.
Mark, who also visited other areas in the plain belt, did a recce of the areas and said the findings would be discussed in a meeting with the executive committee and further action would also be taken up.
Earlier various NGOs from the Phulbari area, including the GSU, AHAM, GSMC, CEPARD etc had submitted a written complaint over three main issues – with land occupation being one of the main concerns, settling of illegal migrants across the plain belt and businesses working without valid TNT licenses across the plain belt.
“The NGO had submitted a compliant on the matter of GHADC land being occupied as well as pattas being given to non tribals in Mouza III. The findings will be discussed with the EC and then we will work on action that needs to be taken,” the Deputy CEM said.
Jack A Sangma, AHAM member highlighted the problem of illegal pattas and how the situation was getting out of control.
“We are not even sure as to where many of these people have come from, Assam or Bangladesh but they have pattas on Aking lands which is illegal. We have raised the matter with the GHADC and the deputy CEM visited today to do a survey of the complaint. He has also assured us that the EC would be looking closely into the matter,” said Sangma.
Meanwhile Marak stated that the entire Garo Hills was being mapped as per the various Mouzas (ten in all) so that illegal occupation can be identified, correct to a margin of 3 cm. Geo-mapping of all lands will be done and a budget set aside to ensure it was completed on time. This he felt would go a long way in identifying land owners as well as provide details of illegal land occupation. The mapped data would be available for all to see in the coming days.
