Guwahati: BJP Vice President and MDC Bernard N Marak has strongly objected to the Meghalaya government’s plans to include certain A’kinglands into the municipality, asserting that such actions violate Article 243ZC of the Indian Constitution.
Marak emphasized that consent from the Nokmas and the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) should have been obtained before proposing to integrate Danakgre, Doldigre, Alotgre, Darechikgre, Duragre, Chasingre, Ballonggre, and Rongkhongre Akhings into the Municipality.
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His opposition follows a government notification announcing the finalization of the Draft Risk Informed Based Master Plan for Tura, encompassing the aforementioned A’kinglands under the Municipality.
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Marak urged the state to cease all efforts to urbanize villages within the Tura MDC constituency, reiterating the constitutional authority vested in the Nokmas and ADCs over Scheduled areas.
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Marak highlighted the historical significance of including Hills in administrative districts and emphasized the importance of respecting the Sixth Schedule to the constitution, which was granted to the Hill tribes.
He emphasized that encroaching into Scheduled areas would not be tolerated by the BJP government.
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Additionally, Marak recalled a 2014 agreement in Delhi to abolish municipalities, alleging that despite this agreement, the Tura Municipality board and others in Garo Hills continue to operate without proper permission from the Nokmas and the GHADC.