‘District Council is guardian of people’: PN Syiem

A Reporter

SHILLONG: Former KHADC chief PN Syiem today highlighted the importance and role of the district council and stated that the council needs matured and experienced people who understand all the issues and are able to protect the interest of the indigenous people of the State.

He said the council is the guardian of the people and plays a vital role in many issues like the interstate boundary dispute with Assam, Rangbah Shnong, MUDA building by-laws. ban on coal mining and issues relating to land, etc.

“After we achieved our statehood in 1972, some people thought that the district council has become less irrelevant. But for every issue, all have to turn back to the district council,” he said.

He said after the traditional heads of the State were disempowered as per the High Court order on 2014, all look up to the district council as their guardian.

“Under the pressure of Sonia Gandhi, whom I met when I was with the Congress party during the issue of VAB , Dr Mukul did sent our bill to the Governor but sadly the Governor, instead of giving approval to the VAB, sent our bill to the Home Ministry,” he said.

“As per Article 163, the Governor is suppose to act on the advice of the State Cabinet, so the question is under which provision did the Governor sent the bill to the Home Ministry,” he said adding that this was just a delay tactic of the MUA II government.

He further said it is the duty of the district council to congregate all the written land documents and records to make certain that Meghalaya can reclaim all the land that the State of Meghalaya has lost to Assam. “It’s is high time we take this matter to the Supreme Court. But we should make sure to have all the evidence and proofs to be able to reclaim all the land,” he added.

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