HNYF in total agreement with Urban Affairs Minister

FROM A REPORTER

SHILLONG, Feb 12: The Hynniewtrep tiol Youth Front (HNYF) is in total agreement with Urban Affair Minister Ronnie V Lyngdoh on his recent statement that MUDA should take over the landed property at Jail Road, Shillong, which belongs to MUDA.

Office Secretary HNYF Donbok Dkhar said the landed property was leased out to HM Cement in the year 2011 for the purpose of constructing a Five Star Hotel, which by now it only proved that HM Cement has defaulted on payment of rent to MUDA and also the hotel of such dimension is breaching the security of the nearby Shillong Jail.

Stating that in the year 2011, HNYF had opposed the leasing of land to HM Cement on grounds that it violate the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act by any definition, he said “We had opposed it because the said land is in the area of 71,649,58 Square feet and the lease was meant for the period of 30years this only means the total alietion  of our land to non-tribal entities which is against the land law of Meghalaya.”

In this connection, the HNYF has also submitted a presentation to the then Urban Affair Minister and Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills Jopthiaw Lyngdoh in the year 2011. According to him, the said land lease was done in total violation of all norms and procedures of leasing out government property as it was done without obtaining any sanction for lease either from the State Cabinet or the State Legislature, hence the lease in itself is illegal and now HM Cement has defaulted and cheated the people of the state.

“We request the present Urban Affair Minister to revoke the lease agreement and take over the landed property which belongs to the government,” he said.

He informed that they also will seek an appointment with the Urban Minister to apprise him on an RTI finding on the lease agreement 2011.