TURA: The Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Tikrikilla Regional Unit has said that illegal transfer of land between local residents and outsiders which is taking place on a regular basis in the plain belt areas was a cause for great concern.
It stated that the transfer of land owned and occupied by local residents (tribals as well as non-tribals) to outsiders through illegal means by way of sale, mortgage, lease, settlement etc was in direct violation of certain sections prescribed in the Meghalaya Land and Revenue Regulation (Application and Amendment) Act 1972.
According to the union the illegal transfer of land had become a common practice among the people of the region that it was now luring others who were not yet involved to do the same due to the soaring land prices.
The union also revealed that village elders, Nokmas and Gaonburas were actively involved in the illegal transferring of lands to outsiders. The failure to restrict the practice by villagers including concerned authorities was encouraging influx on a large scale in the region according to the union.
“The Nokmas and Gaonburas have been helping outsiders to obtain tribal lands. This is one of the reasons why there is large scale influx in the region,” the GSU President from Tikrikilla, Walseng N Sangma said.
The GSU in an effort to prevent the illegal practice from escalating has now appealed to the people of the region not to transfer their lands to outsiders and issued a strong warning that it would not tolerate those involved in the illegal act and take legal action applicable as per law.
