Shillong, March 17: The Meghalaya government isundertakinga survey of all government land as well as launching a cadastral survey in order tohave proper records of lands in the entire state.

Today, deputy chief minister (in-charge) revenue, R.C. Laloo informed the Assembly that the state government would like to implement the cadastral survey under the Meghalaya Land Survey and Records Preparation Act, 1980, which provides for a cadastral survey of land and preparation of land records in the state with the involvement of the autonomous district councils (ADCs).

Laloo was replying to a discussion brought by Opposition MLA from Sohra, Titosstarwell Chyne, on the style and functioning of the state revenue department with reference to dealing with government lands in the state.

"The government is attempting to have this survey and demarcate the villages of the state with the help of the ADCs," Laloo said as he appealed to all to cooperate so that the survey can move ahead.

Stating that the government had faced problems in the past, Laloo said if proper records of the lands were maintained, it would have been easy to protect not only government land but also private land.

The idea to have a cadastral survey in the state was mooted by various leaders in the past including former chief minister B.B. Lyngdoh. It was during the budget session of the Assembly on March 21, 1975, that Lyngdoh, who was the minister (in-charge) revenue at that time, had also proposed in the House the need to have a cadastral survey.

"We have to tacklethe problem (related to land) and it is a matter of urgency to have a cadastral survey to determine the right owners. It is a subject matter of the land reforms commission, that should be taken up as early as possible," Lyngdoh had stated in his reply to a cut motion where members of the House discussed on the land issue.

But the survey could not take off in the past, as it was criticised as an attempt by the government to impinge on the rights of the people in matters related to land.

Today, informing that the revenue department is entrusted with maintaining proper records related to inter-state and international boundary matters, Laloo referred to the inter-state boundary dispute with Assam. Meghalaya has proposed an all-party effort to arrive at a beneficial solution to the problem.

On maintenance of international boundary pillars along the India-Bangladesh border, Laloo said the work was being implemented jointly by the special director of Meghalaya land records and survey and director-general of Bangladesh land records and survey.

Laloo told the House that land under the possession of the state government was being occupied by various departments spread all over the state under the general supervision and control of the general administration department and the revenue department.

He said that though the survey of lands was an uphill task, some progress had been made and the survey was conducted in some government lands spread in various districts of the state by using modern technology.

On encroachment of government lands Laloo underlined the need for maintenance of records by various departments besides taking up fencing of all government lands to prevent encroachment. Chyne wanted to know from the government what steps had been taken to protect government land as well as measures to get back many plots of land occupied by encroachers in the state so that the government could utilise this for other purposes.

The Sohra MLA also cited an instance of Maxwelton Estate (about seven acres) near the temporary Assembly building here, where the government has not been able to get back till now, as well as the government's property at Kench's Trace-Laban here, allotted to one D.C. Dutta who was an employee of the PWD.

Chyne asked the government to take immediate steps to get back Maxwelton Estate, since the court had allowed the government to make fresh land acquisition under the new land acquisition act.

Laloo said a special leave petition would be filed in the Supreme Court and a draft affidavit had been prepared to pursue the matter related to the estate, adding that action would be taken according to rules of law to get back the government property at Kench's Trace.