Following a backlash (or “unwanted narrative”) from various quarters, the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (MIDC) informed today that it is scrapping the proposed land acquisition at Umsiang-Mawkdoh where it had intended to set up an industrial park.
Earlier this month, the Confederation of Ri-Bhoi People (CoRP) had claimed that the MIDC planned to purchase 300 acres of land at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore and that the plan has been put into motion without consulting the public and was only discussed with the headmen and traditional chief of the local Raid.
A statement from the MIDC denied parts of these claims, especially the cost – the state-owned company said that the budget was not even 5 percent of the Rs 100 crore estimate provided by CoRP.
With Assam’s upcoming ‘Electric City’ just across the border, the MIDC had become interested in Umsiang-Mawkdoh based on its “strategic suitability and feasibility” for an industrial estate, seeing the location as having the potential for environmentally sustainable and non-polluting industries. It would have provided local employment and revenue for the state’s coffers, today’s release stated.
The corporation had floated an Expression of Interest (EOI) on March 7, 2025 for this purpose and the notice was advertised in leading English and Khasi dailies. Following this, six interested sellers participated in the process.
However, the MIDC has received backlash that has included the “false and misleading claim” that the land acquisition process has already been completed.
“Furthermore, MIDC has received several letters from different groups explicitly opposing the establishment of an industrial estate in the area, with strong objections to any such development. Therefore, the corporation feels that it is in the best interest to cancel this land acquisition if it cannot use the area as an industrial estate,” it added.
