SHILLONG, Sept 6: Governor Satya Pal Malik has granted assent to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Regulation and Administration of Land) Bill, 2021 which seeks to protect and conserve the land tenure system prevailing in the Khasi Hills.

Informing this on Tuesday, KHADC chief executive member (CEM) Titosstarwell Chyne said, “We are very happy to inform you that the Bill has finally got the assent of the Governor.”

Stating that it is a big achievement for the UDP-led executive committee in the KHADC, he said that the previous ECs despite putting all out efforts could not get the Land Bill approved by the Governor.

Chyne said the Bill, now an Act, will be published in the Meghalaya Gazette very soon. “Accordingly, we will also come up with the rules for implementation of the Act in the jurisdiction of the KHADC,”  he informed.

The KHAD (Regulation and Administration of Land) Bill, 2021 was passed by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on November 10, last year.

Earlier, the KHADC had recalled the KHAD (Regulation and Administration of Land) Bill, 2020 passed in June, 2020 after the same was referred to the expert committee constituted by the state government, the same year.

The KHADC chief said that Bill will empower the clan, the dorbar shnong and the dorbar raid to issue land documents.

“Now after the Bill has been granted the assent by the Governor, land documents issued by the clans, traditional heads with the approval of the district council will have to be recognized by the banks and other institutions,” he said.

Chyne further stated that the Bill will to a great extent address the problems related to the exorbitant rate charge while issuing land documents.

“The Bill clearly stated that all fees for Dulir Pynskhem, identification, recommendation, Dulir Patta, No objection certificate shall be as prescribed and notified by the executive committee from time to time,” he said.

When asked, the KHADC chief said that the Act will also help in addressing the issue of landlessness among the tribal indigenous people.

“The executive committee can declare areas as land banks so that we can allot the same to the landless tribal people,” he said.

The Land Bill clearly stated that the executive committee (EC) may with the consent of the Chief and his Dorbar, Dorbar Raid, Dorbar Shnong or the Land Owner or clan(s) as the case may declare and set apart any area of land as Land Bank. Such a declaration shall be reported to the district council in session.

The administration and management of the area declared as Land Bank shall lie with the committee constituted by the executive committee consisting of the executive member in-charge Land, it said.

The Bill further stated that the executive committee after prior consultation with the respective Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid and the Dorbar Hima may by notification fix a ceiling over the settlement, allotment or setting a part of raid land made by it or under its sanction under the provisions of this Act.

In fixing such a ceiling, the EC may prescribe a limit both in the number of plots as well as the size of the land that each person or family may hold. Any area found in possession or occupation of any person in excess of the ceiling so fixed, shall be illegal and void, it said.