Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma dismissed claims of secret land deals on August 25. He told the Assembly that the government sticks to rigid legal paths when buying land for public works. Every acre taken falls under the Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Act, 1971.
The process kicks off when landowners show interest and name their price. Next, the government hunts for no-objection clearances from local authorities and headmen. The Deputy Commissioner holds public hearings to check for encumbrances and confirm that prices remain fair.
State Cabinet members make the final call on all acquisitions. They handled land for the Shillong airport expansion and the New Shillong Township this way. Sangma claims these projects aim to create opportunities for the state youth. He respects local customs too. "There has never been a situation where we have bulldozed in any way," Sangma said. He insists the government never uses backdoors for sales.
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