Shillong, Jan 16: 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 said, “We need investments, we also need industries but this idea of creation of a land bank is very dangerous for the state.”

Demanding the government to abandon this idea, Blah said, “We demand it is better for the government to re-study the previous existing system of land acquisition here. Like the ministers including chief minister they have said that it is no different from the previous system as (government agencies like) MIDC, MTDC use to buy land, but the point here is that all these departments are receded to the background but in 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.

Sadon also alleged that the Meghalaya State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Act, 2024 is totally against the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act, 1971 and customary usages of land and said, “Yesterday, we have seen the government is intending to revoke section 34 of this (MSIPF) Act, which the heading of this section reads “power to override other Acts” including customs and usages of land holding system here but that does not suffice because the intention of the Investment Meghalaya Agency (IMA) here is to create a land bank.”

“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, “You see, seeking permission is not an issue. We can get permission but at least as we used to do in the previous years before this act, whenever there is any investors, who would like to invest, you will have to inform and seek permission and they have to pass through the social impact assessment and environment and pollution clearance but here this idea of land bank, once the land is with the government, all these procedures that needs to be followed will be impacted.”

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.

Also Read: Pnar language included in State Anthem, to be unveiled in Meghalaya Games opening

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