The dorbar shnong of Lapangap has resolved not to allow the district administration to uproot tree saplings asserting that the land where the trees were planted falls under it.
Waheh Shnong of Lapangap, Deimoni Lyngdoh told Highland Post over the phone, that the village dorbar in its meeting held today with one voice, decided not to agree to the condition set by Assam administration and the Karbi people.
The tree saplings were planted at a land located about 1 km from the village by the residents through a scheme under the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority, he said.
Lyngdoh said about 50,000 tree saplings were planted, out of which over 3000 were destroyed by the Karbi people on July 12 and August 18 this year.
He said land owners held possession of the land for decades and posses land patta to confirm ownership. He said 82 land owners own land and two forests belonged of the village.
“We will not allow anyone to snatch away our land that rightfully belongs to the people,” the waheh shnong asserted.
It may be mentioned that the Pnar and Karbi communities were engaged in attacking each other on September 26 and 27 using bows, arrows and slingshots.
A meeting to quell the fight between the two communities was held yesterday between the district administrations of West Jaiñtia Hills and West Karbi Anglong, wherein it was decided that the Pnar farmers will be allowed to harvest their paddy and that the saplings will be uprooted.
