Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today criticised news organisations that “misrepresented” aspects of the cabinet’s decision over the Meghalaya State Investment Promotion & Facilitation (MSIPF) Act 2024.
Although the provisions relate to the leasing of land to private players for development projects, it had been painted in certain quarters that the cabinet had given its nod to allowing outside companies to buy land in Meghalaya, a touchy subject among the indigenous tribes. It has also been noted that, though land will be leased and not sold through this legislation, the doubling of the lease period available to 60 years is comparable to selling it.
Today Sangma said that the MSIPF does not contradict any provisions of the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act 1971.
He criticised certain newspapers for publishing articles without thorough research.
“For any economic growth and investment – if we aim to achieve a $10 billion economy and create 5,00,000 jobs we need investments,” the CM stated. “We require the private sector to establish large hotels, pharmaceutical industries, IT sector industries and to focus more on green projects. I’m not referring to projects that may not be environmentally friendly but rather to new technology-based industries that can grow and provide significant employment opportunities. Food processing is beneficial for our farmers, the world and our entrepreneurs. Hence, we established what we call the Invest Meghalaya Agency.”
He explained that previously, a single-window clearance system managed by the Commerce and Industries Department was in place. However, this process was cumbersome for investors as they still had to engage with multiple departments if their plans crossed over from one department to another.
“To streamline this, we decided to bring all departments together under a committee headed by the Chief Minister, forming the Investment Agency. This concept allows for a single portal where investors can apply without having to visit multiple departments in person. Permissions will be granted in a timely manner, and procedures will be followed efficiently,” Sangma said.
The CM stated that the cabinet thoroughly discussed the matter since it pertains to land, an essential asset for the people, society and state. “We carefully reviewed every provision in the cabinet memo, which led to our decision. Unfortunately, this discussion was misrepresented in various news articles,” he concluded.
