The state govt’s policy is dangerous as it may lead to the depletion of Raid land in 10 to 15 years
SHILLONG, Dec 12: The state Cabinet’s recent amendment to the Meghalaya State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Act 2024, which now facilitates the purchase of land by investors in Meghalaya, has become a subject of concern for the Opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU).
The Investment Meghalaya Agency, which earlier did not have the provision of buying and providing land to the investors, can now buy and provide land to the investors after a decision was taken by the Cabinet to approve an amendment to the Act.
Expressing apprehension over the amendment, the KSU on Thursday said the government should revoke the decision if the people of the state are not going to benefit from this.
“What we understand is that such an amendment is not in line with the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act. The Meghalaya Land Transfer Act is there to protect the land rights of the tribal people, the indigenous tribal people of Meghalaya,” KSU general secretary Donald V Thabah said.
He said following the amendment of the Meghalaya State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Act, land now will be purchased and handed over to private investors without consulting the traditional institutions like Autonomous District Councils in the Sixth Schedule state.
“We feel that such an amendment is detrimental to the well-being of the indigenous tribal people of Meghalaya. This will also lead to land alienation of indigenous tribal people,” the KSU leader said.
He said there is no clarity if the investors will be indigenous people or private companies or firms from outside the state.
He said if they are from outside, then the state does not have employment policies like other states which guarantee that indigenous youth will get employment in such private companies. He said the Act is filled with loopholes and therefore, the KSU feels the indigenous populace is not going to gain anything from it.
Thabah questioned how the governing body can go ahead and take decisions when some of the members are absent. Further, he asked how discretionary power has been given to it to acquire land without the consent of any particular department.
According to him, the worst part is that it has been mentioned clearly in the Act that no legal action can be taken or lawsuit can be filed against the governing council in case of any discrepancies.
Meanwhile, the Opposition VPP has expressed concern that the NPP-led MDA Government is allotting land to private investors from outside under the Meghalaya State Investment Promotion & Facilitation Act 2024.
Addressing a public rally at Smit on Thursday, VPP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said government agents are buying Raid land, which they will ultimately sell to the government. The government will then allot this land to private investors under the Meghalaya State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Act.
Basaiawmoit noted that private investors from outside cannot buy Raid Land due to the Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Act, 1972. He warned that the government’s policy is dangerous, as it may lead to the depletion of Raid land in 10 to 15 years. “We strongly oppose this policy, as it goes against the interest of our own people,” he said.
Under Khasi customary law, the Ri Raid system grants occupants full ownership rights over lands they personally occupy and utilise.