SHILLONG, JAN 20: Apprehensive that if the state government signs the tripartite agreement proposed by the forest department, then it would enable cement companies to buy land in Meghalaya, the Social Organizations of Meghalaya Against Land Alienation (SOMALA) has asked the state government not to give its approval to the proposed by the state forest department.
“We demand that the state cabinet should not approve the proposed tripartite agreement,” SOMALA convener W Anthony said in a statement issued on Monday. According to him, the proposed tripartite agreement is to enable the cement companies to buy land which is a clear violation of the provisions of the Land Transfer Act and the Sixth Schedule.
Anthony said it is very strange that even after the nine cement companies in Jaintia hills violated the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act 1980 the forest department has proposed such an agreement.
Anthony said,“The state should in the first place take punitive action against these cement companies for illegal purchase of land under the Land Transfer Act which is the duty of the Revenue department to enforce the law.”
Saying that non-enforcement of the Land Transfer Act is a long pending issue taken up by the SOMALA, Anthony said the government remains adamant for reasons best known to them. He further said, “The state government by considering the tripartite agreement is only bypassing the Land Transfer Act and the Sixth Schedule which is akin to pursuing a non-tribal policy which is unfortunate for the people of Jaintia hills.”- By Our Reporter
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