Shillong, Jan 27: Land owners and residents of five villages in the Satpator area of West Jaintia Hills along with two MDCs inspected the rice fields and betel nut plantations that were allegedly destroyed by NBCC, the company constructing the India-Bangladesh border fence from Jaliakhola to Kamsing in the Muktapur area.
The MDCs – Medling M Swer of War East and Jamshaphrang Pohtam of War Central – and locals were also accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner GH Passah and representatives of the Border Security Force (BSF) during the inspection last week.
The question had been raised as to who gave a no-objection certificate to the company to destroy the farmland and why the surveyor was allowed to run the road through the fields without any public approval.
The landowners have expressed their anger over the forced confiscation of their land by the company without any discussion.
The villagers also alleged that the company is trying to avoid fencing riverine areas and wants to make more profit because if it goes according to the survey it will have to build two or three bridges and thus it wants to reduce the cost, which has resulted in a loss of land for the residents.
Pohtam said that after investigating the matter, it is understood that there must have been a secret arrangement between the Dolloi and some members of the executive committee of Satpator Elaka.
He said that the Dolloi has claimed ownership of all the land and rice fields owned by the people and therefore he has given permission to the government through the DC’s office together with the NBCC to proceed with the construction of this road.
Pohtam also said that it was agreed that all the compensation would go to the Elaka and thus the landowners would lose their rights.
Swer said that, as an Executive Member, he will not tolerate this harassment and will not allow the land to be occupied and confiscated by the company.
