The Laban circle of the Khasi Students Union (KSU) today met the Principal Chief Conservator Forest (PCCF) in the Forest and Environment Department with regard to what it says are illegal settlers and structure at the Mahadev Khola temple.
The KSU reminded the official that a memorandum to evict the illegal settlers and 40 structures at Mahadev Khola was also submitted to the District Forest Officer last month. Since then, the pressure group said, the settlers have filed an application to divert the forest land for other purposes.
“We strongly object to such applications made by the illegal settlers and we have urged the concerned authorities not to accept such applications. If such an application is entertained then a grave danger awaits the indigenous people because such places are forests and are outside the purview of the Dorbar Shnong and can soon turn into a colony where anyone from other states can come and settle,” the KSU said.
The PCCF said that eviction will have to be in collaboration with the district administration and police and they will jointly sit to discuss the matter.
