Shillong: The Jaiñtia National Council wants the Meghalaya government to stop the transfer of 232.899 hectares of tribal land to Kopili Cement (I) Private Limited. The land sits in Umkyrpong, Elaka Sumer, and belongs to Wom Chyrmang of Jalaphet village.
East Jaintia Hills officials issued two Form-D notices on August 28 and September 1, 2026. These cover 1,524,990 square metres and 804,000 square metres. The total price tag is Rs 11.88 crore.
JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh led a delegation to the Revenue and Disaster Management Department. They handed a formal request to officials because Commissioner Sanjay Goyal was not available. They want the state to hit the brakes.
The council argues the deal ignores legal requirements meant to protect indigenous owners. Section 4(1)(b) of the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act, 1971, and associated rules demand that authorities check if other tribal people want to buy the land at market value. The rules require a 30-day window for such buyers to step forward.
JNC claims the government failed to properly notify the public. They previously asked the Deputy Commissioner on October 8 to extend the notice period and widen the publicity. The council is also wary of the Rs 11.88 crore price, citing the limestone wealth of the plots.
Lyngdoh demands transparency. He asked, "If our own tribal people are willing and capable of purchasing these lands at the applicable market value, why should they be deprived of that opportunity simply because they were never adequately informed?" The JNC is now pushing for a full review of the valuation process.
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