Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill 2011
SHILLONG: Social Organizations of Meghalaya Against Land Alienation (SOMALA) has asked the State Government to move an amendment to the acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill 2011 as per the philosophy of the sixth schedule to protect and safeguard land alienation in Meghalaya and to stay implementation of the new land acquisition act until amendment is made in the interest of the indigenous people of Meghalaya.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, SOMALA Convener W Anthony said that the SOMALA recently had written to the Prime Minister of India to exempt Meghalaya from the proposed land acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill 2011 and the group received a reply from the Prime Minister’s Office which states that land acquisition is a concurrent subject and the State Government are free to move the amendment to the new Act as their specific need.
SOMALA further stated that the State Government is acquiring land at the fall of a hat against the philosophy of the sixth schedule which aims to protect and safeguard the land of the tribal, adding that the State Government paid attention to the sixth schedule by amendment of the Land Transfer Act to alienate Tribal Lands and at the same time abstaining to enforce the Land Transfer Act enabling enormous illegal possession of land.