Authorities in dark over border residents' land

From A Correspondent

Shillong, Dec 13: The State government on Wednesday said it does not have any information on residents of Meghalaya living along inter-State borders were registering their lands with Assam authorities.

Replying during the Question Hour, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Revenue & Disaster Magement Prof RC Laloo said that the government was not contemplating to reduce the amount for registration of land in the border areas.

The Deputy Chief Minister informed the House that it is the respective Deputy Commissioners who fix the rate on land registration depending on the need and requirement of the district.

UDP legislator from Nongthymmai Jemino Mawthoh reminded the House that even the Meghalaya High Court had passed an order in 2014 directing the State government to have proper registration of land sale deed to avoid loss to government revenue.

To another question raised by the Nongthymmai UDP legislator on the decision of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council to offer free registration land to people residing along the border areas, Laloo said that the government is not aware about such a decision on the part of the district council.

To another query by Hill State People’s Democratic Party MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit whether land registration had legal binding with the one registered with the Autonomous District Councils or the State government, Laloo could not provide a specific reply, saying, “The issue would be properly examined in consultation with the Law department.” “If the land registration with the Deputy Commissioner is legally binding, then the process of registering the land with the District Councils should be done away with. We need to have a complete clarity on this issue for the benefit of the people,” Basaiawmoit emphasised.