Shillong, Jan 24: Residents of over 60 villages in East Jaiñtia Hills District have sought the intervention of Governor Ganga Prasad into the sudden decision of the government to shift the Wapung community & rural development block to Lumshnong.

“The governor has assured to take up the matter at his level with the state government,” a resident of Wapung village, M.H .Dkhar, who is also the president of the All Jaintia Youth Welfare Organization (AJYWO), told reporters here on Wednesday.

Apart from the governor, the delegation of concerned citizens and NGOs, also submitted a memorandum to chief minister, Mukul Sangma demanding immediate revocation of the January 9 notification issued by the state government in this regard.

The state government had last year decided to shift the Khliehriat C&RD block from Khliehriat, the district headquarter, to Wapung village and accordingly changed its name to Wapung C&RD block.

The foundation stone for the construction of block office at Wapung village was also laid by former Community & Rural Development minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar on April 22, last year.

After eight months, the state government issued a notification on January 9, to shift the Block from Wapung to Lumshnong, about 40 kilometers away, allegedly without citing any reasons.

Expressing strong opposition against this decision, Dkhar demanded from the state government to immediately revoke its decision and ensure that the block remained at Wapung village, as the foundation stone for the same has been laid.

Terming the decision of the government “unjustified” he said that the two Dorbar Shnongs of Wapung area – Wapung-skur and Wapung-shnong – had donated the land about 5 acres, and construction of the office had already started in the area.

“This is an act of betraying the people of the area. We have lost our confident in the present state government which tried to take away what was given to the people,” Dkhar said.

He also alleged that the state government was trying to “politicise” developmental issues and by taking the people for a ride.

“Just because the election is coming the government is trying to make it a political issue which the people of the area will not accept,” he said.

Former independent legislator of Khliehriat constituency Justine Dkhar, who recently joined the BJP, had accused the chief minister of taking political revenge against him by shifting the block to Lumshnong just because he had joined the saffron party.

Dkhar said that they have nothing to say on the political rivalry between the chief minister and the former MLA of Khliehriat but their concern was that the government has betrayed the two Dorbar Shnongs and the people of the area.

Echoing similar views, former NGO leader, Damewanhi Rymbai, also a resident of the area said, “Let them do politics among themselves but they don’t have the right to play with the sentiments of the people of the area.”

He also recalled that when the government had decided to shift the block from Khliehriat to Wapung, thorough inquiry and survey was conducted. “However, when the government decided to again shift the block to Lumshnong from Wapung, there was no such exercise being taken up,” Rymbai added.

Maintaining that they are not against development for Lumshnong, Dkhar however said that the government if it wants, it can create a new block for Lumshnong area because the district still requires one more block to bring administration closer to the people.

At present, there are only two C&RD blocks – Saipung and Wapung (erstwhile Khliehriat block) in East Jaintia Hills District. Wapung alone has more than 70 villages under its jurisdiction.