The Joint NGOs Forum of West Garo Hills, comprising concerned citizens, civil society organisations, intellectuals and stakeholders of Meghalaya has decided not to attend a meeting of the committee constituted for the redevelopment of the First World War monument at Lower Babupara, scheduled tomorrow.
In a statement today, the forum said there are procedural inconsistencies in the formation of the committee.
“It has come to our attention that two notifications regarding the formation of the said committee were issued on the same date, March 22, 2025, bearing the reference number No. PA/CEN/2025/1. However, discrepancies in the notification format were observed, as one version was posted yesterday on the official Facebook page of the Deputy Commissioner, while the same notification was again posted today,” the forum said.
Stating that there is lack of clarity and uniformity in the notification process the forum said this has caused confusion, raising serious concerns about procedural transparency. Additionally, the official hard copy of the letter was received only at 5:30 PM today, further reinforcing the irregularities in communication and administrative handling of this matter, it added.
The forum also objected to the inclusion of the Chief Executive Officer of the Tura Municipal Board and the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner as both Chairman and members of the committee. “Their role should be limited to providing clarification as and when required, rather than holding decision-making positions within the committee because such arrangement raises questions regarding the fairness of the decision-making process and the undue influence that may arise from the dual roles assigned to these officials,” it said.
Another concern raised by the forum is the inadequate representation of academicians, historians, social activist and members of the Joint NGOs Forum in the committee undermines the credibility of the committee, as community participation and consultation are essential for a fair and inclusive redevelopment process.
Stating that they had submitted a letter to the Chief Minister on March 23 highlighting key issues regarding the redevelopment of the cenotaph, the forum said there has been no official response and hence inappropriate for them to participate in the meeting.
The forum urged the authorities to address the concerns and ensure that the redevelopment of the cenotaph at Lower Babupara, Tura, is carried out with fairness, transparency, and proper representation; only through meaningful engagement for the interests of the people.
