SHILLONG: Stating that the best possible way to prevent alienation of indigenous land to the neighbouring state is through proper land records, KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said that the District Council does not have the power to provide free registration of land to encourage people residing along the inter-state border with Assam to register their land in Meghalaya.
While informing this on the second day of the Council’s Summer Session, Basaiawmoit said, “It is only with the support of the State Government that free land registration can be provided to people residing in the border villages.”
Basaiawmoit was replying to the motion moved by Jirang MDC Victor Ranee (Congress).
The KHADC CEM added that the Council can also seek cooperation from the State Government to prevent alienation of tribal land to Assam.
“We can carry out a physical verification of the various areas if we decide to initiate the land record,” Basaiawmoit said.
Earlier moving the motion, Ranee said that many of the villagers residing along the inter-state border are registering their land with Assam due to the flaws in the land registration system in Meghalaya.
“The Assam Government has allowed the people to register their land for free,” Ranee said adding that on-spot registration by the neighbouring state is also swaying people towards them.
The areas under his constituency where people are opting to register their land in Assam include Pillingkata, Iongkhuli, Umtyrnga and Maikhuli. The population in these areas is around 6,000 and the residents are mostly Karbis, Boros and Rabhas, he said.
Besides registering their land, Ranee informed that the Assam Government is also providing free electricity and drinking water to the poor villagers.
While highlighting the flaws in the land registering system in Meghalaya, he said that the poor villagers who are mainly farmers cannot afford to register their land in Meghalaya since it is too expensive.
He added that the procedure for registering land in Meghalaya is also very lengthy.
Supporting the motion, Laitumkhrah-Malki MDC Antonio N War alleged that traditional heads like the Sordar and Syiem are harassing people by taking advantage of the flaws in the land registration system of the Council.
Pointing out that the District Council does have a proper map to define the areas under the different Himas, he urged the Executive Committee to direct the Himas to prepare maps of their respective jurisdiction for inclusion in the Council’s land record which is legally recognized.