SHILLONG, July 28: The Decision of Khasi Hill Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to approve the proposal to issue No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the contentious two lane road from Nongstoin to Wahkaji has created problems on Thursday as members of the Khasi Students Union (KSU) stormed the District Council in protest.
A group of people shouting slogans anti road project vandalized ffice of the KHADC by entering forcefully into the Council building and headed straight for the chamber of KHADC CEM P N Syiem and started vandalizing his room by smashing and stamping his name plate.
The group later vandalized the office chamber of the secretary of KHADC by smashing the retaining glass wall and toppling a table inside the office. According to Smti B Basaiawmoit the secretary of the KHADC said a group of people entered her chamber and started smashing the retaining glass wall and threated her and other employees to exit the office so they can clamp the office under lock and key.
She alleged that the group of people who forcefully entered the office building had also manhandled some of the employees which also included women staff. In their regard she informed that an FIR has been filed against the ‘group of people’ at Lumdiengjri police station.
The enforcement wing of the KHADC, were unable to prevent the crowd of people from entering the office and even the CCTV cameras installed in the Council has been out of order for the past 3-4 days.The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council Employees Association has condemned the incident that took at their office.
Speaking with newsmen inside the premise of KHADC, Chairman Employment and Protection cell KSU central body, Lambok Marngar said, “We are totally against the decision of the PDF under the leadership of the CEM P N Syiem to issue NOC to the two lane road project from Nongstoin to Wahkaji and our objective today is to demand that the Council should immediately scrap its decision.”
“If the Executive Committee goes against the wishes of the people then it should be ready to take responsibility if any untoward incidents happen,” he said.
Shocked at the sudden change of stand from the CEM on the road project, he said, “We have seen in the newspapers that the CEM is firm in not issuing NOC to the road project but within 24 hours he changed his decision and this shows that he has no responsibility for the welfare of the people.”
Observing that the KHADC is there to protect the rights of the indigenous people of the state however judging by the sudden chain of events he said the Council in a blink of an eye changed their stand on the issue and betrayed the people.
The KSU were at the Council premise until and unless the KHADC Chief gives them proper clarification on the matter. However later after speaking to EM in-charge Labour Banteidor Lyngdoh the Union members decided to leave after getting assurance that they will get a change to meet the CEM in the coming days.
KHNAM MDC, A. Nongrum said, “If the KHADC CEM does not scrap his decision in issuing NOC then I will be the first one to bring a No Confidence Motion.”Dy. CEM KHADC P. T Sawkmie said, “In the meeting which decided to approve the issuing of NOC to the road project me personally in my capacity I was not in favor of the decision and later in the PDF meeting I will express the need to scrap the decision.”
