Khliehriat, Apr 27: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) representing the villages of Huroi and Lahalein has sought an immediate cessation of a proposed survey for the construction of a high-speed corridor.
The ambitious 166.80 km high-speed corridor project aims to connect Shillong in Meghalaya to Panchgram in Assam, which Huroi and Lahalein, two border villages under Rymbai Elaka have been identified in the land acquisition plan.
However, members of the JAC today met East Jaiñtia Hills Deputy Commissioner to highlight their concerns pertaining to an ongoing dispute in the village and sought a halt to the survey work.
According to the JAC, the area has recently seen the unilateral establishment of a new village named Umpyrshin by the Jaintia Autonomous District Council (JHADC), which they said was done without the consent of the villages. They felt that moving forward with the survey for the proposed high-speed corridor would deepen the existing local tensions and could escalate to law and order issues.
The JAC asserted that the creation of Umpyrshin within the lands traditionally occupied by Huroi and Lahalein is not only illegal but also undermines the rights and authority of these communities.
They told the DC that the JAC had lodged a complaint with the JHADC, which has referred the matter to a competent tribunal that’s currently reviewing the case.
Until the jurisdictional dispute is resolved, the JAC said that conducting the survey would not only prejudice the rights of the villagers but also complicate the adjudication process.
The JAC has urged the DC to halt any further actions regarding the project until a resolution is reached.
