Shillong, Dec 4: The Jaintia National Council (JNC) has lodged a complaint over an alleged illegal transfer of tribal land to a non-tribal individual.
The transfer was supposedly made to one Bharat Sharma for the proposed Shree Cement Integrated Plant at Daistong in East Jaiñtia Hills.
In a statement issued on Thursday, JNC President Sambormi Lyngdoh said, “The JNC will not allow any violation of tribal land rights under our watch. We have acted swiftly and responsibly by filing three official letters and one major complaint. Until the government confirms the legality of the land transfer, the public hearing must be halted immediately.”
The complaint highlights concerns over the land transfer, citing Section 2 of the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act, 1971, which prohibits transfer of tribal land to non-tribals without written permission from the Deputy Commissioner.
The JNC has requested the Commissioner & Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, to investigate the matter, verify DC approval, and declare the land transaction null and void if found illegal.
