SHILLONG: Congress MDC Antonio War (Laitumkhrah) has suggested that the Council should stop issuing trading licenses to those banking institutions which refuse to recognize land documents issued by the KHADC.
“We need to send across a strong message that we are not going to issue trading license to any banking institution which wants to open its branches within the jurisdiction of the Council unless they recognize land documents issued by the Council as a legal documentation for availing loans,” War suggested during the Question Hour on Wednesday.
He said that presently the banking institutions only accepted land registration documents issued by the office of the Deputy Commissioner for issue of loans. “None of the farmers from rural areas will be able to afford to register their land with the office of the Deputy Commissioner. It is for this reason that they are still dependent on private money lenders who continue to exploit them,” the Congress MDC said, adding that recognition of the land documents issued by the Council will be of great help to the poor farmers in availing loans from banks.
In reply, KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum said that he will try to convene a meeting with the various banking institutions including the nationalized banks to request them to recognize land documents issued by the Council as legal documents.
“We have already had a series meeting with the banking institutions on this issue. I hope some positives will emerge out of these negotiations,” Nongrum said.