Shillong, Mar 13: The Meghalaya State Investment Promotion & Facilitation (MSIPF) Act, 2024 on Thursday underwent a significant amendment to safeguard the interest of local indigenous people.
Acknowledging concerns of land alienation raised by several organisations, the government decided to amend the Act and accordingly the state assembly unanimously passed the Meghalaya State Investment Promotion & Facilitation (Amendment) Bill, 2025 tabled on the concluding day of the 10-day budget session.
The amended Act will see deletion of “creation of land banks through direct purchase of land or other means” that had raised the concern about land alienation.
The Bill tabled by chief minister Conrad K Sangma was passed with the support of members from both ruling and opposition, who welcomed and appreciated the government’s willingness to listen to the voice of the people.
Earlier, the Act faced strong opposition from several quarters, including civil society groups, as Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) even led a protest march to the Assembly demanding immediate repeal of MSIPF Act 2024.
In his address while tabling the Bill, the chief minister said with the amendment to MSIPF Act, Meghalaya Investment Promotion Authority (MIPA) would not have any objective of creation for land banks and provide land to investors.
“It will not engage in creating land banks or a system to transfer or lease out land, but it will focus on facilitating investment to create platforms which are already there, which are comfortable,” he said.
“This shows that this is the government that would never bulldoze. This government will listen to the will and concern of the people,” he added.
The amendment Bill also mentioned that MSIPF Act shall not be in derogation of the Land Transfer Act and that the authority of autonomous district councils (ADCs) empowered under Sixth Schedule of the Constitution would not be undermined.
“These three specific amendments are brought in to give specific comfort to the citizens that all necessary rules and regulations as per Land Transfer Act and rules of the ADCs will be followed,” he said.
Admitting that the issue “creation of land banks” caused concern even among the ruling coalition, Sangma said several NPP and UDP MLAs from Khasi and Garo Hills expressed their concern over the issue of “land banks” to be created by MIPA.
Referring to his recent meeting with KSU, he said he had explained to them the different amendments being brought in to address concerns of the stakeholders.
“Despite clarifying, I still sense there was discomfort when it comes to the land bank issue,” he said.
Asserting his government’s pro-people agenda, the chief minister said it takes time for people to get a clearer picture on the government’s intent as it requires a lot of study and in depth research.
“We will take no step forward against the larger interest of the people and we will not hesitate to take one step back, if it is required,” he added.
Reiterating the sole objective of MSIPF Act is to facilitate investment in the state, he said, “MIPA is not here to buy land nor to forcefully transfer land to anybody.”
“There is no question of transferring any land to any company, which has been the apprehension (of many),” he asserted.
