Shillong, Dec 17: Deputy chief minister in charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong has responded to the controversy over Mawjymbuin cave in Mawsynram by citing the government’s lack of say in the whole affair due to the state’s land tenure system where the community has a larger stake.
The land where the cave is situated belongs to the local community and the prohibition on Hindu rituals was not imposed by the government, but by the local dorbar shnong.
“That particular place doesn’t belong to the state government and… whoever from outside the state, they need to know about the land tenure system in Meghalaya,” Tynsong told reporters.
“Even if we (government) want to take over that place, we cannot unless the land owner is willing to,” he added.
Calling for more awareness on the land tenure system, he said, “I would like to appeal to such organisations, within or outside the state, to understand the reality about the land tenure system… no one is above the system… no one is above the traditional practices.”
