SHILLONG, MAR 17: Meghalaya government is taking up a survey on all government lands to protect them from illegal encroachment which is likely to intensify due to growing population in the state.
“We are making all efforts to survey government lands as per Assam Land & Revenue Regulation, 1886 and adopted by Meghalaya in 1972, which is applicable to all government lands in the state,” deputy chief minister RC Laloo said.
He informed that the survey is because of the fact that the maintenance of records by the various departments and fencing for protecting of government lands against encroachment is the need of the day.
Stating that encroachment on government land is a serious problem today, Laloo said, “With the way the population is increasing I am afraid it will intensify in the future.”
Laloo, who holds Land & Revenue department, was replying to a motion moved by UDP legislator from Sohra Titosstarwell Chyne during the ongoing Assembly session on Thursday.
Chyne had emphasized that it is time to have records of the lands owned by the government.
Informing that government lands occupied by various departments have large area of lands spread all over the state, Laloo said, “We in the Directorate of Land Records and Survey, with the participation of other departments, we are trying to keep all these records and the process is still going on.”
According to him, the Directorate of Land Records and Surveys and Revenue Department have made some progress on what he called an ‘uphill task’ despite limited resources.
He also informed that the areas where survey have been completed using modern technology are GAD land at Khliehriat, Cleve Colony, Risa Colony, Umpling Block, Polo, Motinagar Ward, GAD land at Sohra, Polytechnic at Mawlai, land of MIDC and MeECL at Umiam, PWD land at Mawsynram, GAD complex at Mawkyrwat, GAD and Sericulture land at Resubelpara, and 3rd MLP Battalion at West Jaintia Hills District.
However lamenting on the slow progress of the survey on government lands, Laloo said this is due to the fact that there are only 10 survey teams capable of handling survey modern technology which are available with the Land Records and Survey. The teams are also deployed for various survey works in various districts of the state including Indo-Bangla border.
Further, the deputy chief minister also informed that the Meghalaya Land Survey and Records, 1980 provides for cadastral land survey in the state and preparation of land records.
The act was amended in 1991 involving the district council in the implementation of the provision of the act as the scheme of cadastral survey has been decided to be implemented by the district council with financial and technical assistance from the state government, he said.
Stating that the department is aware of the illegal encroachment and unauthorized settlement on government lands, Laloo said, “The department had in 2014 directed all deputy commissioners to protect government land from encroachment by erecting walls.”
Besides, eviction drives are also carried out by DCs in phase manner in accordance with the provision of Meghalaya Public Premises Eviction of Unathorized Occupancy Act, 1980, he said.
He however stated that while carrying out eviction of illegal encroachers at times, the situation turned unpleasant and violent and many times the DCs faced major problem and had to stop the operation temporarily besides evictions are also stayed by orders of Court. –By Our Reporter
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