KSC land encroachment: JVC fires warning ahead of cabinet meeting

Dimapur, June 8 (EMN): The Jotsoma Village Council (JVC) has taken strong exception to the state government’s assurance to the All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) that the issue of Kohima Science College (KSC) land encroachment would be discussed at the June 10 cabinet meeting and provide “an alternative arrangement.”

In a press release issued on Saturday, the council stated that it was “appalled” to learn about the said assurance. If the alternative arrangement means moving the college out of Jotsoma jurisdiction “as demanded by ANCSU on August 14, 2018,” it stated that the village shall have no other option “but to take back the land both donated as well as acquired land for which the village may not be blamed.”

The council reminded that the villagers had donated 50 acres of Jotsoma community land while another 131.78 acres were acquired by the state government at a token compensation of 0.03 paise per sq. ft. in 1967/68.

“The villagers sacrificed their prime agricultural land in view of the request made by the state government through the following officials, viz, L Lungalung, H Zopianga and T Haralu who assured the villagers that a university would be set up from this place. Over the years, several proposals for the establishment of the university were received. However, the state government from its side either turned down the proposal or shifted it elsewhere for reason best known to the authorities who took the decisions,” it stated.

According to the council, the first proposal came in the mid of 1980s when Nehu proposed to establish Kohima Science College as a University College under Nehu along with Pachhunga College in Mizoram. “The then authorities turned down the proposal to convert Science College into a University College while Mizoram readily accepted the proposal and today, Pacchunga University College in Aizawl, under Mizoram University has become a model university college of not only of NE Region but throughout the country.”

The second came in the late 1990s with the proposal to set up Kohima Campus of Nagaland University, it stated. The site selection committee set up by the state government had recommended Kohima Science College, Jotsoma to be the site for Kohima Campus of Nagaland University as the College had basic infrastructure as well as congenial educational atmosphere for establishing a university.

“As a matter of fact, the district administration had after negotiation with the villagers fixed the rate of land compensation at INR 40,000 per acre which was officially communicated to the village council by the then deputy commissioner of Kohima. However, in 2003/04 government once again shifted the site to the present site of Kohima Campus, Meriema.

“The council is very sure that the new site must be better than Kohima Science College, Jotsoma both in infrastructure-wise and existing educational environment which is a very important factor to be considered while choosing site for any educational institution. Moreover, the rate of land compensation must be cheaper than the one negotiated by the district administration with the people of Jotsoma village and therefore, we have no complaint whatsoever of shifting the proposed site from Kohima Science College, Jotsoma to the present site at Meriema,” it stated.

Currently, with the granting of autonomous status to the college, doors for upgrading it to a Deemed University has been opened, which will be most beneficial for the future Naga students as well as fulfilment of the dreams of the forefathers who had sacrificed their land, it stated.

“In the midst of all these, the ANCSU has taken up the issue of land encroachment within the college campus and had on April 24, 2018 issued a shocking statement stating ‘vigorous agitation would include vandalising three government buildings (Doordarshan Kendra, PHED and RCEMPA) located within the acquired land of Science College as an example for encroaching the college land.’ It is further learnt that on August 14, 2018, the leaders of ANCSU had in a meeting with the chief minister, deputy chief minister, chief secretary and other officials threatened to dismantle the aforesaid three buildings and ‘shift the Kohima Science College out of Jotsoma village jurisdiction.’

“The Jotsoma Village Council wonders whether Kohima Science College, Jotsoma is the only college in the state which is having land encroaching problems. Today Kohima Science College, Jotsoma is being treated as though it is the only college being encroached. Our questions to the government is whether allotments have been issued in the same manner in other colleges too out of the area acquired by the government either by acquisition or donation for development of the college,” it stated.

According to the council, the land problem started due to unabated allotment of government acquired land to individuals. The council, it stated, has been taking up the matter with the authorities since the early 1980s.

On November 14, 1990, a high powered committee led by the then minister of Higher and Technical Education, Prof. T Chuba had decided “land belonging to Science College shall not be allotted to any organisation/individuals other than for the purpose of expansion of Science College,” the council informed.

Afterwards, the state government issued nine notifications banning allotment of land including the assertion that officials who allot the land would be punished, it stated.

“Despite the decision of the HPC and the notifications, regrettably allotment of college land remained unabated till 2009. It was because of this unabated land allotment by the government, the landowners claimed their land stating that the land was acquired for educational purpose and not to let the government of the day allot land to people of their choice.”

The council has already informed the government, as well as publicly stated in the newspapers, that it will ensure that the landowners return the land to the college if the government cancel and evict all the land allotted after the decision of the HPC and take action on erring officials.