The State government has allotted land through the Revenue and Disaster Management Department for 2426 individuals and groups as per government guidelines, Minister Kyrmen Shylla informed the house today.
He said that the total area allotted to lease including government department is approximately 372.9468 hectares and total area available of the revenue plot is 381.9468 hectares.
The Revenue and Disaster Management minister while replying was to a question raised by VPP legislator, Ardent M Basaiawmoit said no members of house or relatives were allotted land and that allotment of revenue land to the persons and individuals are identified by government guidelines.
Basaiawmoit also 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.
The minister said that under the Assam land revenue regulation, the settlement of land and lease is applicable but said names of those who sold their land is unavailable.
Leader of the Opposition, Ronnie V Lyngdoh asked whether any revenue land is being alienated due to illegal encroachment.
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.”
Details were also not available with the minister a question raised by VPP MLA, Brighstarwell Marbaniang that a huge plot of government land at Forest Colony is occupied by individuals who are not employees of the forest department.
TMC legislator Charles Pyngrope said there is a 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 revenue of the state.
