Shillong, June 27: The state government on Monday decided to regularize lands which were illegally occupied by over 1,200 households in two localities of Williamnagar in East Garo Hills District.

After chairing a cabinet meeting on Monday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the government has decided to regularize the lands that have been encroached by the public in Williamnagar township by implementing a decision taken in 2002-2003.

Cabinet has decided to regularise the lands owned by the Govt. that have been encroached by the public in the Williamnagar township. 2 localities namely Balsrigittim & Warimagre in the township will be regularised. pic.twitter.com/ZMSxsEfkYk

— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 27, 2022

In 2002-03, the then cabinet had decided to regularize and to have an agreement with the public who had been illegally occupying the land owned by the government. However, from 2003 onwards and till now, this decision was not implemented.

“Hence the government of the day has decided to implement this decision for Williamnagar where lands in two localities – Balsrigittim and Warimagre – where approximately 1,200 houses are present –will be regularized. We will be signing a long-term lease with each of the occupants where the ownership of the land will remain with the government,” Sangma said.

He informed that the limit has been set at 10,000 sq ft for each family and the rate will be based on the GHADC classification where for Warimagre, which is a first class land, the rate has been fixed at Rs 2.55 lakh per bigha and Balsrigittim, which is a second class land, at Rs 1.87 lakh per bigha besides a monthly amount will be taken from these families.

Sangma said that similar steps will also be taken in areas under Tura town. “Steps are now taken to do the survey as large areas have also been occupied by the public. We will figure out ways and means to regularize these lands where the ownership will remain with the government,” he said.

“This has been done in the larger interest as there has been too much of confusion, too many cases and too many situations in the past which the government strongly feels that these things should not go on forever and therefore, we need to find an amicable solution to these problems and this is one step to that,” he added.

When asked, the chief minister said the government will generate a one-time revenue of Rs 8 crore and Rs 2.67 crore yearly from the land at Balsrigittim and Rs 4.5 crore (one time) and Rs 1 crore annually from Warimagre land.