Shillong, April 22 Advocate Napoleon S Mawphniang from Ri Bhoi has lodged a complaint against the land aquisition process in New Shillong Township by saying that it was illegal.
He cited serious violations in the land acquisition process for the New Shillong Township project. The complaint was addressed to Governor, Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister & Minister in charge of Urban Affairs Department, Law Minister, and Chief Secretary of Meghalaya
The complaint was on systematic failures revealed through recent RTI reply disclosures.
Key violations Identified below
Complete Absence of Public Consultation: The RTI response explicitly states “no public consultations were held” during the acquisition of 1,722.71 acres, directly violating Section 4 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act).
Use of Obsolete Legal Framework: Despite being superseded in 2013, compensation was calculated under the colonial-era Land Acquisition Act 1894, invalidating the entire compensation framework.
No Legal Basis for Acquisition: The RTI response indicates “Nil” under “legal provisions invoked,” suggesting the acquisition occurred without proper statutory authorization.
Environmental Compliance Failures: The NSTDA admitted “No environmental clearances were required” despite acquiring approximately 697 hectares of land, far exceeding the 20-hectare threshold that mandates Environmental Impact Assessments.
Absence of Rehabilitation Plans: No provisions were made for the 33 affected landowners, contradicting Chapter V of the RFCTLARR Act.
The consequences of these violations extend beyond procedural irregularities. They represent a fundamental breakdown in democratic governance and threaten the ecological and social fabric of Meghalaya, the advocate said.
The RTI documents received on March 22, 2025, provide irrefutable evidence of these violations. “My complaint calls for immediate suspension of all land acquisitions pending judicial review, recalculation of compensation under current laws, and the formation of a Special Investigation Team to probe potential corruption.I urge citizens, civil society organizations, and media to recognize the far-reaching implications of these violations. The New Shillong Township project must proceed only with proper legal compliance, environmental safeguards, and respect for indigenous rights.
Photo caption: Foundation stones for three roads leading to New Shillong Township were laid on January 24
