The Narpuh Border Area Joint Action Committee (NBAJAC) has threatened to launch agitation against the State Government over its delay in finding solution to the demand of setting up Community and Rural Development Block at Lumshnong in East Jaiñtia Hills district.
The NBAJAC announced its plan to launch agitation after a delegation led by Congress MLA from Sutnga-Saipung constituency, Shitlang Pale met Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in the Secretariat on Thursday evening and demanded that a decision be taken to set up the block at Lumshnong.
Last year, the State Government had inaugurated the block office at Wapung Skur but in its notification issued on January 9, 2019, the block office was shifted to Lumshnong village.
The matter was also taken to the court where the division bench of the Meghalaya High Court on June 6 this year passed its order asking the Meghalaya Government to consider afresh on shifting the block to Lumshnong village in East Jaiñtia Hills district, and took a decision within six weeks.
The court passed the order while disposing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a resident of the district, Damewanhii Rymbai, against the Government’s notification (on January 9, 2018) on shifting the block from Wapung village to Lumshnong village.
Terming the outcome of the meeting with the Chief Minister as ‘not fruitful’, secretary of NBAJAC, Daïapherbha Lamare, told reporters that the Chief Minister did not give any assurance regarding the demand to keep the block at Lumshnong.
Lamare said that the Chief Minister, however, stated that the block office would continue to function from Khliehriat as of now, pending the government’s decision.
“The State Government should take decision without further delay, and it should not give any excuse that the State is reeling under financial crisis. The Chief Minister and the present State Government is adopting a double standard policy,” said Lamare .
“On the one hand, they said that the State Government has no money, but on the other hand, they have the money to create the Ranikor Civil Sub-division that too just within few weeks of the promises made by the Chief Minister for the sake of getting one more MLA from Ranikor. Luckily, the NPP candidate lost the bye elections to Ranikor constituency,” Lamare added.
Threatening to launch the agitation if the State Government takes a wrong decision, Lamare said, the State Government should take a decision soon that the block should remain at Lumshnong.
“We will meet the people in the coming days to discuss the issue and take our future course of action. But we are sure that we will launch our agitation and come to Shillong to demand that the Block should be set up at Lumshnong,” Lamare said.
Earlier, the NBAJAC maintained that Lumshnong is a suitable location and centrally located for different villages under the block as compared to Wapung village.
The NBAJAC also said if the State Government is shifting the block to Wapung, then it should consider creating a new block at Lumshnong.
