The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has passed a resolution urging the Meghalaya state government to consult all stakeholders, including the council, prior to implementing the Meghalaya State Investment Promotion Facilitation Act (MSIPFA), 2024. The resolution was tabled in the council’s winter session by Chief Executive Member Pyniaid Sing Syiem. The MSIPFA, which aims to empower the Invest Meghalaya Authority (IMA) to purchase and lease land to private investors, has raised concerns over its potential conflict with the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Regulation and Administration of Land) Act, 2021, and the implications it might have on the unique Khasi land tenure system.
Syiem emphasized the need to preserve the socio-cultural ethos of the Khasi community and asserted the role of traditional tribal institutions in safeguarding land rights. He highlighted that the Khasi and Jaintia communities follow a specific land tenure system protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and further supported by existing laws such as the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act, 1971. Syiem clarified that while the council supports the state’s development objectives, it will not compromise on maintaining indigenous land rights.
Opposition leader Titosstarwell Chyne echoed these concerns, pointing out that Clause 4 (1) of the MSIPFA, 2024 grants the IMA the power to purchase land directly to create land banks, bypassing the traditional acquisition process and potentially undermining the consent mechanisms involving the Dorbar Shnong and Syiem. He requested clarity on whether the IMA’s direct purchase power requires council consent, as this provision might conflict with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
Both Syiem and Chyne stressed the importance of preserving the council’s jurisdiction and the rights of traditional bodies as land custodians while considering modern investment initiatives. The resolution received broad support among council members reflecting widespread sentiment against any dilution of traditional land rights.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2024/12/20/dont-bypass-traditional-bodies-khadc-to-govt/
Category : MEGHALAYA
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Publish Date: 2024-12-20 01:55:00
