Shillong, Dec 13: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Friday handed over periodic lease documents to 754 households across eight localities in Tura town, providing them legal rights to land they had been residing on for years. The handover was carried out in the presence of Cabinet Minister Marcuise N. Marak.

The beneficiaries had long lived on encroached government land, facing challenges such as lack of approach roads, electricity, water supply, and difficulties in obtaining essential documents like caste and birth certificates. A total of 452 bighas of land, equivalent to 149.5 acres, were allotted under the scheme.

Recalling the efforts of former leader P.A. Sangma, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the initiative was driven by a commitment to resolve long-standing issues for the people of Tura rather than political motives. The lease agreements, issued by the Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), West Garo Hills, are valid for 30 years. Each household will be allotted up to 0.69 bighas (10,000 sq. ft.) and pay a nominal land tax of Rs. 2,000 per bigha, with the option to pay in up to three instalments.

The settlement process, initiated in 2023-2024, involved a joint survey by the Deputy Commissioner’s office, the District Urban Planner, the District Urban Affairs Unit, and the DPMU-West Garo Hills, MBMA. The localities included in the phase one settlement are Dakopgre Ronggi Songgital, ITI Upper Matchakolgre, Meghalaya Survey School locality, Sepoy Colony DC office locality, Deringgagre, Chinap Aslang, and Nikwatgre.

The Chief Minister urged the residents to accept the lease documents and highlighted that the land is renewable, with church lands and graveyards exempted from the scheme.

This landmark initiative aims to provide long-awaited relief to communities who had been living under uncertainty for decades.