DIMAPUR, JUNE 8 (MExN): The Jotsoma Village Council (JVC) has issued a statement clarifying its stand on the issue of the Kohima Science College Jotsoma land encroachment.
The JVC through its chairman Mego Nagi and secretary Pfüdolhoulie Rino on Saturday said the land problem started due to the unabated allotment of government acquired land to individuals. In this context, the village council has been taking up the matter with the government since the early 80s. On November 14, 1990, a High Powered Committee led by Prof. T. Chuba, the then Minister (Higher & Technical Education) decided that “land belonging to Science College shall not be allotted to any organization/individuals other than for the purpose of expansion of Science College.”
Thereafter, the government issued as many as 9 notifications banning allotment of land and in 5 of these notifications, it notified that officials who allotted land shall be held responsible and disciplinary proceedings shall be initiated against the concerned officials. Despite the decision of the HPC and the notifications banning land allotment, regrettably allotment of college land remained unabated till 2009, the JVC alleged.
Because of this unabated land allotment by the government, the landowners had claimed their land stating that it was acquired for educational purpose and will not let the government of the day to allot land to people of their choice.
In this connection, the village council said it had already issued a representation to the government and also clarified to the public through its press release on August 3, 2018, that it shall take the full responsibility to let the land owners return the land to the college should the government cancel and evict all the land allotted after the decision of the HPC and take action against erring officials as per the notifications and OMs banning land allotment.
The village council in furtherance of its resolution banned all constructions “both permit/patta holders as well as landowners reclaiming land within the acquired area” till further order from the council vide its notification dated 21-8-2018 which was published in all local dailies.
While having clarified the pertinent issues to the public, the village council said it is appalled to learn that the State’s highest authorities had assured the All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) that the Science College land issue would be taken up in the State Cabinet meeting on June 10 and shall be open to make an ‘alternative arrangement.’
Towards this, the JVC stated that if the said alternative arrangement is “to shift the college out of the jurisdiction of Jotsoma village” as demanded by the ANCSU in its meeting with the Chief Minister and other officials on August 14, 2018, the village council informed all concerned that the village shall have no other option but to take back the land both donated as well as acquired land.
