Shillong,July 22: The Poor People’s Movement (PPM) has expressed strong opposition against the state government’s move to acquire over 5,000 acres of land in Ri Bhoi District for developing a garbage disposal facility.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, president of the PPM, Ri Bhoi District Pateng Marsing told reporters that the proposed land falls under the jurisdiction of Mawhati constituency’s Umlaiteng village and not Mawdiengngan as claimed by the state government.

“We vehemently opposed this move of shifting the Marten, a dumping ground at Mawlai-Mawiong, to Umlaiteng village. We demand the state government to cancel its decision failing which we would be compelled to take stern decision,” he said.

Marsing also informed that the movement would soon meet the Urban Affairs Minister Hamletson Dohling requesting his intervention into the matter.

President of the Seng Longkmie, Umlaiteng P Dorphang said that the reason for the opposition is because the proposed land for garbage disposal is just 10-20 meters away from the village.

She said the Umlaiteng village had refused to grant No-objection certificate (NOC) for the purpose of acquiring the land owned by one Herbert Wilson Trevor Syiem.

“However, the Mawdiengngan headman in connivance with Umlaiteng headman had granted the NOC to the state government,” Dorphang said.

According to her, Mawdiengngan with around 30 households only is a newly established village, which was carved out of Umlaiteng.

“Moreover, the place is also from where residents depends water for irrigation and domestic purposes,” she said.

Asked, Dorphang said that as per a letter received by the Seng Longkmie from the deputy commissioner of Ri Bhoi , it was informed that the acquisition of land was for setting up of municipal or Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

“I am to inform you that the office of the DC have received an application from Manosha Warjri (power of attorney of Herbert Wilson Trevor Syiem) seeking for No objection certificate for the sale of land at village Mawdiengngan, for an area measuring of about 5,000 acres to the MUDA for the purpose to converting it as a place for garbage disposal and for the same this office has forwarded to the Director of MUDA to offer his views and comments on the matter.

However, the landowner (Herbert Wilson Trevor Syiem)on his letter dt July 22, 2018 received by this office, has informed that he is not interested in offering his land for the said purpose and has also withdrawn the power of attorney that he had given to Manosha Warjri,” the DC said in the letter on January 15, earlier this year.

Another resident of the village Richard Sten, while expressing his opposition said that the land is mostly used for agriculture activities and allowing the state government to convert the same into a dumping ground, will affect the livelihood of the people.