IT is a piquant situation for Meghalaya Government. Just 333 families are holding up its plans to build a 100-bed block at the Tura Hospital complex. The land earmarked for the construction was about 151 bighas. Most of it has been occupied.

The encroachers have a funny argument: When we came and settled here, there was no fencing, no boundary demarcation in the area. How can you blame us? West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner S Jagannathan said no eviction notice has been served on these families. “We will take steps for repossessing the land as per the law”, he said. Jagannathan has set up a joint enquiry committee comprising the revenue staff, representatives of Tura Civil Hospital Staff Association, Garo Hills Autonomous District Council and the urban planner.

He said we would act on the report of the inquiry committee in the most transparent manner.The Health officials and NGO are worried over the delay in constructing the hospital annexe. If the building could not be started in time, the allotted funds would be diverted. They appealed to the encroachers to move out of the hospital land in the interests of Garo Hills.

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