SHILLONG: The Social Organisation of Meghalaya Against Land Alienation (SOMALA) has urged the Government not to approve the tripartite agreement which would pave way for the nine cement companies in Jaintia Hills to buy land for afforestation programme as punitive action for violating the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
In a statement issued here on Monday, SOMALA convener W Anthony asserted that the State Government should take punitive action against the companies for illegal purchase of land under the Land Transfer Act.
According to SOMALA, the proposed Tripartite Agreement will enable the companies to buy land, which is a clear violation of the provisions of the Land Transfer Act and the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
It may be mentioned that the nine cement companies have agreed to buy double of the land misused by them and subsequently use them as part of afforestation programmes for violating the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
