Shillong,Nov,12:Expressing its strong resentment and serious human rights concern to the ‘Forced Eviction’ drive by the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) in displacing the local settlers at Umsawli, the Meghalaya Peoples Human Rights Council (MPHRC) has termed the eviction as a gross violation of human rights, in particular the right to adequate housing.
The Council also expresses its strong bitterness to the forced eviction and the alleged harassment and intimidation committed by the MUDA that rendered the affected families including women and small children without any shelter in the cold and without providing any feasible alternative and turning them into refugees in their own land.
“Such evictions, if needed, should have been carried out only in exceptional circumstances and in a manner that is consistent with human rights law, without leaving the affected families homeless or vulnerable to further human rights violations.” said Dino D. G. Dympep, Chairman MPHRC.
“Prior to the process, MUDA has failed to carry out a human rights impact assessment in order to avoid, mitigate and ensure remedy as required by the human rights standards and principles throughout all stages of their activities with the affected families,” said MPHRC.
“The Government has a primary obligation to ensure the fulfillment and enjoyment of human rights to those affected families. It must ensure that effective remedial measures and adequate compensation are provided to the affected homeless families” said MPHRC.(SP News)
