The Jaiñtia National Council (JNC) has urged the Meghalaya government to immediately suspend the proposed transfer of 232.899 hectares of tribal land in East Jaintia Hills to a private cement company, citing concerns over the property’s valuation and inadequate public notice.
The land, situated at Umkyrpong in Elaka Sumer, belongs to Wom Chyrmang of Jalaphet village. Two Form-D notices issued by the East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner named Kopili Cement (I) Private Limited as the proposed purchaser. The combined consideration for the two parcels stood at approximately Rs 11.88 crore.
In a representation submitted to the Revenue and Disaster Management Department on November 12, the council asked the state government to put the proposed transaction and any pending approval process on hold until its concerns were addressed.
Led by its president Sambormi Lyngdoh, the JNC also demanded an extension of the Form-D notice period and wider publicity of the proposed transaction through local newspapers and other public platforms.
The council said it had earlier approached the Deputy Commissioner on October 8, seeking a deferment of the process, an extension of the period for interested buyers to submit their responses and wider publication of the notices in accordance with Rule 6(1) of the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Rules, 1974.
Questioning the proposed consideration of Rs 11.88 crore, the JNC highlighted the land’s potential limestone resources and long-term economic value. It called for transparency regarding the valuation and the criteria used to determine the amount.
The council further claimed that other tribal individuals were interested in purchasing the property and had the financial capacity to do so. However, it argued that insufficient publicity could prevent prospective buyers from exercising their rights under the existing regulations.
“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 said.
He maintained that the land represented valuable resources and economic opportunities for future generations, questioning the rationale behind transferring tribal property without providing indigenous buyers a fair opportunity to purchase it.
The representation was submitted to the office of Sanjay Goyal, Commissioner and Secretary to the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, as he was reportedly unavailable at the time.
The development comes amid the JNC’s continued opposition to proposed transfers of tribal land to corporate entities, including the matter involving Shree Cement Limited.
