The Save B-Mahal Movement Committee, formed recently to save and protect the lands and tribal rights of citizens has objected to the GHADC’s decision to lease out land under B-Mahal area.
In a letter to GHADC CEM, Benedic Marak the committee said that the decision to allow only two bighas of land per family/household on payment of Rs 20,000 per bigha is beyond the power and jurisdiction of the Executive Committee as it was not adopted as an act.
“The decision is invalid and arbitrary as even Meghalaya has not even thought of bringing legislation on ceiling the land holding power of the households and its citizens,” the committee said.
Asking the GHADC to withdraw the decision the committee has also sought land pattas without any discrimination to the tribal owners of the land in the area like any other areas in the Garo Hills region.
The committee said that the bonafide residents of B-Mahal area have equal rights and privileges as the citizens of India and snatching away land will amount to gross violation of tribal rights.
It also argued that both A-Mahal and B-Mahal areas situated along the inter-stateborder that acts as natural deterrence to encroachment and anti-social elements from across the border.