Acquisition of land by the government for the New Shillong Township (NST) is all set to encounter a fresh road block. Half a dozen social organizations comprising of the KSU, FKJGP, HNYF, CSWO, TUR, HANM, and villagers under the 20 village councils held a rally on Tuesday at Deingpasoh, 45 Kms from here, opposing the proposed acquisition of land by the government. Gathered at Diengpasoh village, the gathering gave the State Government a two–week deadline to stop the acquisition of the community lands in the Raid Tynring and Mawpdang villages under Hima Khyriem Syiemship in East Khasi hills district. People came from twenty villages whose livelihood and habitat would be destroyed by the Urban blight of New Shillong Township (NST). Banners and placards in Khasi and English, denouncing the NST project, were held by the people and they demanded for people oriented development which is centred on rights of the indigenous people. The meeting was addressed by P Lyngdoh, Hima Khyrim and a host of other speakers. Speakers questioned the use of the acquisition act, ignoring local customary laws and usages of land ownership where every individual of the community has rights to the usage of community land which cannot be alienated, bought or sold.