Over 2000 individuals and groups benefitted from govt revenue land allotment in state, VPP raises illegal land sale

Shillong, Feb 27: The Meghalaya government has allotted land through the Revenue and Disaster Management Department for 2426 individuals and groups as per government guidelines while opposition MLA from the VPP Ardent Basaiawmoit has alleged that land allotted to displaced people during the Bangladesh Liberation War in a posh area of Shillong city are being sold without the knowledge of the government.

On Tuesday, the last day of the budget session of the assembly, Minister in-charge Revenue & Disaster Management Kyrmen Shylla while replying in a question informed about the allotment of revenue land to the persons and individuals identified by government guidelines.

However, opposition VPP legislator from Nongkrem Ardent M Basaiawmoit questioned on what grounds and norms were people from Bangladesh selling way the land provided to them in Rynjah that was provided by the government during the 1971 liberation war.

Basaiawmoit also queried whether any revenue land has been allotted to members of the august house or their relatives.

To this, the minister said there is no information as such that revenue land is being allotted to members of the house or their relative.

Joining the discussion, Leader of Opposition Ronnie V Lyngdoh sought to know whether any revenue land is being alienated due to illegal encroachment. He said the government is trying to create a land bank but if revenue land is not being encroached, the government will not be required to acquire land (for implementation of various projects).

In his reply, the minister said that there are some people who are trying to encroach and have gone to the court but “we stick to our stand that these lands belong to the government.”

Shylla also said that he does not have details to the question raised by VPP legislator from Mawlai Brightstarwell Marbaniang on forest lands being occupied by people not employees of the department.

TMC legislator from Nongthymmai Charles Pyngrope asserted the need for the government to revise the rate fixed for leasing of revenue lands in consonance with the fair market price as this would also improve the exchequer of the state.