Meghalaya to seek re-transfer of defence land in Shillong

Shillong, Mar 16 : The Meghalaya government has decided to constitute a committee to negotiate with the re-transferring "excess" defence land here for expansion of Shillong. Transfer of defence land would help expansion of Shillong and for upgradation of the only airport at Umroi, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told the Assembly today. He said that Shillong with approximately 0.5 million people and the highest person-vehicle ratio was growing at a staggering 32.38 per cent. "The state government is asking for a portion less than five per cent of the approximate 2000 acre of land under possession by the defence establishment in Meghalaya," he said. Sangma said the committee would be constituted within the ongoing budget session to study the quantum of land the defence establishments occupied and to recommend re-transfer. The Defence Minister had written to the state government in November last year stating that a senior defence ministry official was entrusted to examine the matter, after he took up the issue with the prime minister and defence minister. He said re-transfer of land occupied by the defence establishments was of "utmost urgency" to build flyovers to ease the flow of traffic and civil establishments. About 38 acre of defence land at Umroi in Ri-bhoi district was required to expand the runway for larger aircraft to land, he said. The state government also intended to seek re-transfer of the Garrison Ground and its adjoining hillock in the heart of the state capital. Former Chief Minister D D Lapang said the issue of re-transfer of land held by defence authorities had been pending for too long and suggested formation of a house committee to approach the Defence Ministry.