Bid to ensure ‘no derogation’ of Land Transfer Act
Shillong, Jan 15: The state government has decided to amend the Meghalaya State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Act, 2024, to ensure no ‘derogation’ of Meghalaya Land Transfer Regulation Act, 1971 while promoting investments in the state.
Para 34 of the Investment Act will be replaced with a line that Investment Promotion and Facilitation Act shall not be in derogation of the land transfer act, chief minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
Accordingly, the Investment Meghalaya Agency (IMA) will be renamed Meghalaya Investment Promotion Authority (MIPA) in the amended Act.
Sangma said the decision to amend the Act was taken in order to incorporate the suggestion of a KHADC delegation led by CEM Pyniaid Sing Syiem, who met him recently and raised certain concerns on the matter.
Clarifying that Para 34 overrides all similar provisions in several Acts, he said, “Since it has created a confusion in the district council and other members and from the public, the government has decided to repeal para 34 of this Act.”
Referring to the single window agency (SWA) that used to handle various investment projects earlier, he emphasised the need for a “larger or broader authority” because of broadened investment horizon including health, agriculture, tourism, IT, power and industry sectors, which led to creation of IMA at that time.
The government also decided to make changes in para 13 of the Act in order to address the concern expressed by the KHADC.
“The question of bypassing the ADCs (autonomous district councils) does not arise,” he said referring to the amendment.
The chief minister also informed about a new provision (2-a) to make it mandatory for investors to provide employment to the local people.
“Incentives under the policies will be provided to industries, who are creating employment for local people (individuals, who are domiciles of Meghalaya),” the revised line says.
