SHILLONG: The Urban Affairs Department has intervened in a land-use dispute in Mawdiangdiang, confirming that the New Shillong Township Development Agency (NSTDA) has formally requested the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to clarify allegations of unauthorized construction within its office compound.
This development follows official communication to the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Shillong Mihngi Circle from the department director on August 6, 2026, acknowledging that a written explanation has been demanded from the CBI’s Deputy Inspector General and Head of Branch in Shillong regarding the construction of a temple on state revenue land.
At the center of the inquiry is a binding Lease Agreement signed between the NSTDA and the central agency on November 14, 2018.
Official documents reveal that Clause 10 of the contract explicitly prohibits the erection of any religious structure or modifications to existing premises without prior written approval from the development agency. The original lease terms designated the allotted government land exclusively for an Office-cum-Residential Complex—a condition the KSU contends was violated by the addition of the religious facility.
Emphasizing that central institutions are not exempt from local statutory obligations, the KSU welcomed the state department’s intervention as an important step toward institutional accountability.
The student body called for an expedited, transparent, and impartial probe, asserting that if a breach of the 2018 agreement is confirmed, authorities must enforce the law and order the demolition of the unauthorized structure.
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The union also addressed potential mischaracterizations of its initiative, clarifying that its actions are strictly focused on legal compliance and safeguarding public revenue property.
Rejecting any religious or communal bias, the organization stressed that its primary objective is to prevent external bodies from bypassing regulatory frameworks or asserting unauthorized control over government land.
Reaffirming its commitment to vigilance, the union declared its resolve to oppose any legal violations, regardless of the agency involved.
(4FrontMedia news)
