Khliehriat, Nov 12: The Jaintia National Council (JNC) has opposed the proposed transfer of around 232.899 hectares of tribal land at Umkyrpong, Elaka Sumer in East Jaintia Hills to a private cement company, alleging that the deal was being pushed through without adequate publicity and at a questionable price.
According to the JNC, the land belongs to Wom Chyrmang of Jalaphet village. Kopili Cement (I) Private Limited has been identified as the proposed purchaser in two Form-D notices issued by the Deputy Commissioner.
The first notice, dated August 28, 2026, is for 15,24,990 sq. metres at Rs 8,17,21,000. The second notice, dated September 1, 2026, is for 8,04,000 sq. metres at Rs 3,71,08,453. Together, they reflect a combined proposed consideration of approximately Rs 11.88 crore.
JNC President Sambormi Lyngdoh said the core issue is whether other willing tribal purchasers were given a meaningful opportunity to come forward. Under Section 4(1)(b) of the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act, 1971, the competent authority must consider whether any other tribal is willing to take the land at market value before sanctioning a transfer.
Quoting Rule 6(1) of the 1974 Rules, which requires a Form-D public notice inviting tribal buyers with a 30-day opportunity from publication, the JNC contends that merely displaying a notice on an office board does not prove that the intended tribal public was effectively made aware, especially for a transaction of this scale.
Expressing concern over the transfer of such a large extent of indigenous land to a corporate cement company, Lyngdoh said the price is inadequately justified, especially because the area may have limestone and other valuable resources that will matter for many years. The JNC has demanded transparency on how the valuation was fixed and the basis for the proposed consideration.
The council said it has received information that other tribal individuals may be willing and financially capable of purchasing the land, but without adequate public awareness, they cannot come forward to exercise the opportunity under the law.
Citing Section 4(1)(d), which requires consideration of whether the transfer will promote the economic interests of Scheduled Tribes in the area, and Section 3(2), under which a transfer in contravention of Section 3 is void and unenforceable, the JNC clarified that it is not asserting that Rule 6(1) mandates newspaper publication. It said that given the enormous extent of land involved, wider dissemination through local newspapers and other accessible platforms should be considered.
The JNC had already taken up the matter with the Deputy Commissioner through a representation on October 8, seeking deferment, extension of the Form-D opportunity and wider publicity. During a subsequent meeting, Lyngdoh said it was informed that the matter would be taken up with the Additional Deputy Commissioner.
The JNC, in a letter to Commissioner and Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Sanjay Goyal, has urged the department to keep the proposed transfer and any pending sanction in abeyance until the concerns are examined, direct the Deputy Commissioner to extend the Form-D opportunity for a reasonable period, and ensure wider publication of the notices.
It has also sought examination of the complete forwarding letter and records, proof of how the notices were published, and a written response on the action taken.
“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?” Lyngdoh questioned.
He added that the lands represent the people’s resources, economic future and the interests of generations yet unborn. The council said its intervention is not intended to prejudge the purchaser or interfere with any lawful transaction, but the statutory opportunity for tribal purchasers must not become an empty formality.
