Shullai seek Governor’s intervention into lease holders issue

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 11, 2021

Cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai has sought the intervention of the Governor Satya Pal Malik into the ongoing problems faced by lease holders of Shillong Cantonment area.

A memorandum was also submitted to the Governor by Shullai during the meeting which was also attended by members of Shillong Cantonment Lease Holders Association and Headman of Jhalupara Village Council.

During the meeting, Shullai, who is also MLA of South Shillong, apprised the Governor of the rise in tax due to implementation of STR at the rate of 2.5% of the land value.

The cabinet minister requested the Governor to take up the matter with the union Defence Ministry and suggested that the implementation of STR should be 0.25 of the land value which is acceptable and payable by the lessees.

Shullai also highlighted other grievances faced by the residents of Shillong Cantonment Area due to the implementation of new draft Cantonment land administration rule 2021.

“For all subsisting leases governed by Rule 16 and 17 the Annual Rent (ARV) has been fixed at 2.5% of the market value of the land. The calculated annual rent @2.5% of the market value of the land will be very high and not at all feasible for the subsisting leases to pay the calculated amount,” he said in the letter.

“Therefore, it is suggested that the annual rent calculated should be 0.25% of the land value. Even after the annual rent is calculated @ 0.25% of the land value the annual rent will still be 100 times the present amount paid by the subsisting leases,” he added.

The minister further stated that while calculating the annual rent @ 0.25% of the land value for renewal of lease deed which shall be executed in schedule IV, the word ‘market value of land’ should not be applicable.

He said that the sudden increase in rate due to the application of market value of land while calculating the STR may severely affect the economically weaker section of the residents residing in Shillong Cantonment area and will only promote inflation.

According to him, the calculated STR should be considered only by taking into consideration the government valuation of land prevalent in the municipal area assessed by the competent Revenue authority of the government of Meghalaya.

He also suggested that the lease renewal should be renewed for a minimum period of ninety years, of which the initial period will be of thirty years.