Shillong, Dec 9: The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved major reforms to simplify the renewal and regularisation of excess areas on government lease lands, particularly in and around Shillong. The decision aims to address long-standing challenges linked to the state's cumbersome lease renewal system.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced that many of these leased lands were allotted decades ago, with renewals typically scheduled every 30 years. However, the existing procedure required extensive documentation, multiple layers of scrutiny, and movement of files across government departments - making the process slow, tedious, and heavily dependent on numerous officials.
To streamline the system, the Cabinet has delegated most powers and responsibilities for processing lease renewals to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the concerned district. This decentralisation is expected to enable faster decision-making, reduce bureaucratic delays, and eliminate the need for files to be routed to the state government for approval.
“This step will make the entire renewal process easier, smoother, and far more efficient,” the Chief Minister said, highlighting the government’s commitment to improving administrative convenience for citizens and institutions that depend on long-term leased land.
The new system is expected to significantly cut processing time and enhance transparency in managing government lease lands across Meghalaya.
