P.N. SyiemChief Executive Member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has condemned the decision of the Meghalaya Government for trying to handover the mining policy to the Meghalaya Mineral Development Corporation (MMDC) without consulting the Council. The aim of the Government is to give MMDC the rights to mine limestone and coal.
The chief said that this decision of the government is an insult to the Council and violation of the Sixth Scheduled which is unconstitutional. He also added that if the MMDC get its rights, land owners will suffer as their land would be seizes and people will lose their rights on natural resources.
The evolution of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (C.A.D.C.) can be regarded as the opening of political Pandora box in the political situation of Mizoram. The issue has been propagated in different dimensions by certain political parties, civil societies and even the law-makers. The issue has been so tense and problematic because Chakmas are regarded as outsiders but Autonomous District Council has been created for the so-called outsiders with the trifurcation of the Pawi-Lakher Regional Council (P.L.R.C.) in 1972. It is an undeniable fact to admit that the original home of the Chakmas is Chittagong in Bangladesh and Chakma kingdom also flourished there since pre-British period. Chakmas appeared for the first time in Lushai Hills when the British authority engaged some Chakmas as Labour Corps with the permission of Chakma Queen, Kalindi Rani in the Lushai Expedition of 1871-1872, however, those Chakmas returned to Chittagong after the expedition. Thus, the Chakmas’ official association with Lushai Hills began in 1892 because of the transfer of some Chakma villages nearby Dimagiri from Chittagong administration to South Lushai Hills by the order of Sir Charles Elliot, Lieutenant Governor of Bengal but those Chakmas who were allowed to settle in South Lushai Hills were charged foreigner tax of Rupees Five per year. During that time, Chakma settlement was not found in Uiphum Tlangdung (Present CADC area) because Uiphum Tlangdung was the ancestral land of the Tlanglau and they ruled over the whole hill tracts. Other than the Tlanglau chiefs, there were also some chiefs from Bawm and Pang in the area. The geographical area of the present C.A.D.C. area was administered by the Tlanglau, Bawm and Pang chiefs since pre-British period and was known as Uiphum Tlangdung which means Uiphum Hill Range. The first Chakma migration in the Uiphum Tlangdung was recognized in 1905 and they were employed in the paddy field as workers by the Tlanglau chiefs. Chakma ’s population and influx from across the border increased at faster rate which led to the domination of the present C.A.D.C. area by the Chakmas. As a matter of fact, the Chakma Regional Council later on the Chakma Autonomous District Council (C.A.D.C.) surprisingly emerged as a result of the trifurcation of the Pawi-Lakher Regional Council (PLRC) in 1972 along with the creation and declaration of the Union Territory of Mizoram.
The Union minister Kiren Rijiju during his visit in the State was astonished to see this well preserved and unique temple in the hilltop of West Jaintia hills. This 500 Years old Durga temple is located at the hill top of Nartiang Village. The Home Minister had urged the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Government of Meghalaya to take necessary measures to make the village as the centre of attraction.
The concept and round development is yet to be developed in Meghalaya, the land of Abode of Clouds, the promise land of empty promises. This year 2017, is the pre election year to the legislative assembly, in which the Congress led coalition Government has pronounced achievement in the development field, which to the naked eye, there is much more of a barren land than any fruits of achievements. The age of bullock carts has gone past, replaced by faster modes of transport. But where are the roads to connect specially the agricultural lands with the market centres, to serve the economic cause, which is most essential. In most places, farmers have to trek with their head-loads of agricultural produce to the nearest road stoppage. Most of the agricultural produce are perishable and it becomes a nightmare for the poor farmers to make both ends meet. Transportation has therefore become a big problem for the producers of food, which should have been given a priority.
The State Government has however claimed, that development of road infrastructure and providing village connectivity, is one of the main thrust areas, under which 110 crore rupees have been sanctioned this year. While in the Garo Hills, along national highway 62, a number of wooden bridges have been washed away, because of heavy rains flooding the Simsang river. About 600 villages are affected, as communications have been snapped. For all these years, why wooden bridges are not replaced by cement bridges. So this is the plight of road communication. In many of the villages, people have to come out for “Self – help” road repair and construction.
Today Governor of Meghalaya Shri Ganga Prasad facilitated the newly inducted Patron of the Meghalaya Bharat Scouts & Guides on the occasion of the 67th Foundation Day Bharat Scouts and Guides’. This day is also celebrated as the Flag Day. His Excellency gave away the Rajya Puraskar Certificates to 40 Guides, 28 Scouts, 8 Rovers and 2 Rangers in a ceremony which was held at Raj Bhavan Shillong.
The Foundation Day was graced by the President in charge, MBSG, Shri. P.S. Thangkhiew, Principal Secretary to the Governor, Shri. K N Kumar and officials and members of the Meghalaya Bharat Scouts and Guides (MBSG).
In the year 2015 the Synod had circulated letters to all its units regarding ‘Aadhaar’ and its resemblance to that number of the beast “666” which is from the Bible. To clarify on its stand The Khasi-Jaintia Presbyterian (KJP) Synod Sepngi has called out to the people that Aadhaar enrolment should be based on people’s decision. Rev W.C. Khongwir, Chairman of Synod’s Social and Economic Life Development Department (SELDD) told the press that “We have clarified in the letters circulated to all units of the Church that there is no connection between ‘Aadhaar’ and that of number ‘666’ from the Bible and people should feel free whether to accept or reject ‘Adhaar’.
Furthermore the SELDD will organize “Festival of Peace” at Lyngktop Field, Mawphlang on 2nd of December to strengthen the bonds of friendship and understanding with other communities in the state. The main objective of this festival is to unite the whole Khasi community irrespective of faith and beliefs.
“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is brought under the name of totalitarianism or in the holy name of liberty or democracy?” – Mahatma Gandhi
Elections in Meghalaya are due to be held in the month of February 2018. But all the political parties are upbeat. Every political party has a reason to believe that Congress is down and out. However, Dr Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh a Cabinet Minister in Mukul Sangma government feels otherwise and says that it is wrong to wipe off Congress. BJP which has no MLA in the state of Meghalaya is confident to form the next Government and have appointed the BJP National Spokesperson Nalin Kohli and Union Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam, as the BJP’s in-charge of election in Meghalaya are frequently visiting Shillong, meet the press and grabbing every opportunity to get publicity and space in the newspaper. On the other hand the regional parties believes that people are fed up with the Congress and anti-incumbency factor will play a major role in isolating Congress from the election scene. NPP appears to have made its presence in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills better, as seven MLA’s and five MDC’s have already joined the party till 28th October 2017. The seven MLAs who have inclined to join NPP are Prestone Tynsong, Rowell Lyngdoh, Sniawbhalang Dhar, Ngaitlang Dhar (all from Congress), Remington Pyngrope (UDP) and Independents Stephanson Mukhim and Hopeful Bamon. The MDCs who have inclined to join are HS Shylla, Pyniaid Sing Syiem, Ricky Shullai, Victor Ranee and Jansing Tynsong.
NPP is having reasonably good presence in Garo Hills. They are bound to give better performance in the coming elections. Dr.Mukul Sangma the Chief Minister of Meghalaya should not be undermined as he knows how to play his cards well. He is the only Chief Minster after S. C. Marak who has completed his full term in the office. All attempts to destabilise him have terribly failed in the past. It is also not clear whether voters will buy the concept that Dr.Mukul Sangma is corrupt. Every body is saying so but nobody is telling what corruption he did? The National Secretary of BJP of Scheduled Tribe Morcha, Hayithung Bill Lotha recently in a press conference termed Dr. Mukul Sangma as corrupt. Reacting to this Dr. Mukul Sangma threaten to go court and term the word as irresponsible. The term “corruption” is grossly misused in Indian Politics and it has reached to such a height that honest and dedicated bureaucrats are shying away from moving the files. This is dangerous for the development of the nation. It is a sweeping generalised remark and lacks merit. Eastern Panorama in its efforts to understand the mood of the people spoke to all the political parties and ask them five common questions. They are as follows:
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) along with Khasi Student Union (KSU), Jaintia Student Union (JSU), Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) and many other NGOs has decided to opposed the plying of trucks to the state of Meghalaya without obtaining License from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
The Union also said that even those with National permits for importing products to the state need to obtain trading license from the Council.
Thieddieng Women section oppose Mawphu Hydro Electric Project
Women section of the residents of Thieddieng has opposed the Mawphu Hydro Electric Project implement by North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) claiming that the project destroyed the cultivation land owned by the villagers.
Speaking to the press conference on Friday Smiti P. Wanroi alleged that with the implementation of this project by NEEPCO tress which bear fruits and food products are not even spared. She also added that NEEPCO has dug a tunnel without even consulting the land owners.
The women section had also discuss the matter with KHADC Chief who is their local MLA and MDC Mr. Pynshngain N. Syiem but he did not pay any heeds to their complains.
