Newmai News Network
Shillong: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) today threatened to construct houses for “landless indigenous people” on the Forest department’s land if the state government fails to take action against illegal settlers and illegal structures at Mahadev Khola in Shillong, in violation of a 1929 agreement.
The statement was made after a joint inspection conducted by the Forest Ranger SM Lyngdoh and activists of the KSU Laban Circle at Mahadev Khola amid tight security.
Prior to the inspection, a memorandum was also submitted by the Circle to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force (HoFF) RS Gill, demanding the immediate eviction of illegal settlers and demolition of illegal structures at the Mahadev Khola.
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“If the government cannot evict these illegal settlers, the KSU will also start construction of houses for the poor and landless indigenous people on the Forest department land,” president of the KSU Laban Circle, Reuben Najiar told reporters.
He said if the Forest department is giving land to illegal settlers from outside the state then it should also be ready to give land to poor and landless indigenous people of the state so that they can build houses for themselves.
Najiar said that the Forest department had agreed to conduct today’s joint inspection after the Union had met the DFO on June 5, requesting immediate action on this regard.
“We again submitted a memorandum to the PCCF (HoFF) for his necessary intervention into the matter since the illegal structures that include residential buildings and shops have been constructed without any permission from the department,” he said.
Quoting the RTI findings of the Union, Najiar said the land at Mahadev Khola has been allotted in 1929 with clear-cut conditions that it will be only for the purpose of constructing a mandir and not otherwise.
However, today’s joint inspection in the presence of the department’s Forest Ranger further revealed that there are many illegal permanent structures being constructed in the place.
He said during an inspection conducted only by the Union, it was found that there were over 30-40 illegal households. These illegal houses have been set up using tarpaulin sheets and are paying Rs 100 daily, he added.
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“The Forest officials had informed that they are conducting a survey as they don’t have any statistics on how many illegal settlers there are but as per our findings, there are over 30-40 illegal households with a population of over 200 people,” he alleged.
The Forest officials said that they are conducting a survey as they don’t have a statistical report on how many illegal settlers are there but as per findings of the Union, we found there are over 30-40 illegal settlers having a population of 150-200