By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said that the Government would seek a report on the excess land used by industrial units including cement plants beyond their requirements.
He also assured that a detailed report on whether the mandatory 60 percent job reservation to the locals was provided in the industrial units, would also be sought.
Replying to a call attention motion moved by UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh on the concerns of SOMALA regarding alienation of land by industrial units in the State, the Chief Minister said that efforts would be made to ensure that the units adhere to the laid down norms.
“The Government has learned through experience that as per the earlier Industrial policy when land was allowed to be transferred by outright sale to industrialists, more than the required land was allowed to be transferred,” he said.
Chief Minister said, “This matter was examined by the Government and an Executive Order was issued by the Government with holding the provision of section 4 (e) & (f) of the Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Act 1971 on March 30 2011 relating to transfer of land to non tribal entities with a view to streamline the administration of the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act”.
Dr Sangma said that it is totally wrong to blame the industries for the deteriorating power scenario.
He said that the Government is making a huge gain since they are selling power to industries at a higher rate.
“The fact is that the Government is able to subsidise the rate of power to the domestic consumer from the profit which they gain by selling of power to the industries,” Sangma said.
With no industrial development taking place in the past many years, he said that it is most unlikely that the Government would have to approve the fresh power tariff as proposed by the MeECL.
“The increase in the power tariff is going to have a huge impact on the domestic consumers,” Chief Minister said.
Earlier, Lyngdoh, while initiating discussion, said that he would like to know if the Government would revert back the excess land which was acquired by the industrial units which are beyond their requirements.
“The lack of transparency in the land acquisition process has given undue benefits to the industrial units,” the UDP legislator said.
He also felt that the new industrial policy which was recently adopted should also have a retrospective effect where the Government can take back the excess land granted to these industries.
Lyngdoh, however, observed that the industrial units which have come up in the State have failed to abide with the provision specified in the new industrial policy to provide a minimum of 60 percent job reservation to the people of the State.
“Around 1200 local youths have been employed in the 12 cement plants which have come up in the State. This clearly reflects the failure of the Government in ensuring that the local youths are adequately absorbed in the various industrial units,” the UDP legislator said.
He said that it is futile to have these industries unless it served the interest of the local people.
Lyngdoh however observed that there is a large scale destruction of the ecology since majority of the industrial units which have come up in the State is mineral based industries.
“The destruction to the ecology is due to the large scale mining and industrialization,” the UDP legislator said.
He said that the coming of the industries has also led to the problem illegal immigrants which perturbed the minds of the members of the State in the past many years.
Pointing out that the coming of the industries has also led to the deteriorating power scenario, he said that during the early 80’s, Meghalaya was very much a power surplus State.
“The dismal power scenario started to emerge after the announcement of old industrial policy in 1997,” Lyngdoh said.
The UDP legislator said that any policy that the State Government adopted should go a long way in ensuring the overall growth and development of the State.
