Shillong, July 23: Chief of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Shemborlang Rynjah on Wednesday conducted an inspection of the Mawpat forest and announced that his executive committee (EC) will soon meet to investigate into the alleged illegal acquisition of land and take necessary decisions and actions to protect the forest.

Rynjah was accompanied by executive members (EMs) and officials from the three departments – elaka, land and forest – during the inspection, which was conducted after receiving a complaint from the women and youth wing of the Voice of the People Party (VPP).

According to the chief executive member (CEM), the forest at Mawpat was declared as a ‘Law Adong’ (or Khlaw Adong that refers to village forests that are protected and set aside for specific purposes, often related to water conservation and biodiversity, with restricted access and usage) in 2014.

Rynjah told reporters present during the inspection that he had witnessed many pillars being erected inside the forest land. He also admitted that there are reports indicating that some MLAs have also acquired land in the said forest.

“However, we are still in the dark as to whom these pillars belong to and who has erected them. Therefore, the EC has decided to soon meet to investigate the alleged illegal acquisition of land within the forest and take necessary decisions and actions,” the CEM said.

“As of now, I don’t know whether these people, who have erected these pillars, have got permission through proper procedure or not and whether they are the subjects of the Hima Mylliem as we fear that there are some people from outside the Hima, who are given land here,” he stated while emphasizing the need to adhere to terms and conditions of the agreement signed on May 22, 2014.

Rynjah said he believed former CEM Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit’s decision to declare the forest as ‘Law Adong’ was based on observed activities in the area. He informed that after reviewing documents on the forest, it was revealed the area has been historically known as “Khlaw Sumar Kyrpang”.

However, he noted that the KHADC had cancelled the notification in 2019 and handed over the forest to the Hima. “Therefore, the EC will immediately meet to decide on the status of the forest,” Rynjah added.

The EC meeting will aim to determine the next course of action regarding the forest’s status.

Rynjah emphasized that the council is still awaiting a report on who erected pillars in the forest and will wait for this information before making a decision.

He clarified that the KHADC has not invited the Hima for a joint inspection, but the outcome of the EC meeting may shed more light on the matter.

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