Shillong, Jan 17: The Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) on Thursday staged a protest demanding the state government to drop its idea of creating a land bank as it is in contradiction with the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act, 1971.
This came a day after the state Cabinet had approved the amendment of Meghalaya State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Act, 2024, which seeks to ensure there is no ‘derogation’ of the Meghalaya Land Transfer Regulation Act, 1971 while promoting investments in the state.
Speaking to reporters, HNYF president Sadon Blah asked the government to abandon this idea,saying, “It is better for the government to re-study the previous existing system of land acquisition here. The government has said that it is no different from the previous system as government agencies such as MIDC, MTDC buy land. But the point here is that all these departments are receded to the background. But here, the facilitation that the government has created is very aggressive and once it is too aggressive means not welcome to the state.”
He informed that the organization had already submitted a letter to the chief minister on December 20, last year expressing its displeasure on the government’s intention for land acquisition to be allocated to different companies.
“As long as this idea of creating a land bank is there, it will have its contradiction with the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act. So we would like to send a message that revocation of section 34 is welcomed but this very idea of creation of a land bank is very dangerous to the land holding system of the state,” Blah stated.
On the government’s decision to ensure necessary permissions are sought from the district councils, the HNYF president said once the land is with the government, procedures such as social impact assessment and environment and pollution clearance will have an impact.
Further, Blah informed that the HNYF will sit for its CEC meeting next week to decide on its next course of action if the government does not pay heed to its demand.
