The State government has decided to include a provision in the Meghalaya State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Act (MSIPF), 2024 for the act not to override the Meghalaya Land Transfer Regulation Act, 1971.
The decision was taken during the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today after the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) raised its concerns.
The Act was originally passed to streamline the investment process in the state. Previously, the Single Window Agency (SWA) managed investment projects, but as the scope expanded to sectors such as health, agriculture, tourism, IT, power, and industry, the need for a broader authority led to the creation of the Invest Meghalaya Agency (IMA) and the passing of the Act.
The chief minister said that Clause 34 was originally intended to simplify the application process under the Common Application Form (CAF) by avoiding amendments to multiple existing acts. However, the provision created confusion among the public and the district council.
“To avoid further misunderstanding, the government has decided to repeal Clause 34 and make the necessary amendments to other affected provisions, such as those in the SWA, the Meghalaya Promotion Policy, and the Tourism Act. We will also add a line to the Act specifying that it shall not derogate from the Meghalaya Land Transfer Regulation Act, 1971,” said Sangma.
Another issue raised by the KHADC concerned the provisions under Paragraph 13 of the Act, which detailed the CAF process. A specific clause mentioned that applications for clearances under central laws would be submitted to the central government. To address this, the government will add a paragraph clarifying that application, fees, and clearances required from Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) will follow the councils’ procedures.
“This amendment ensures that the role of the KHADC and other ADCs is not bypassed. Permissions, NOCs, and applications required by investing agencies must go through the respective district councils using their forms and fees,” Sangma added.
Another amendment introduces a provision mandating local employment. Section 2A of the Act will now state:
“Subject to the overall control and superintendence of the government, the Governing Council shall provide overall policy guidance and directions under this Act. (New line added) Ensuring that incentives under the policies will be provided to industries that create employment for local individuals domiciled in Meghalaya.”
The final amendment involves renaming the Invest Meghalaya Agency (IMA) to the Meghalaya Investment Promotion Authority (MIPA) for consistency with the Act’s title, the Meghalaya State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Act.
