Shillong : The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has introduced land ceiling limits for the allotment of Raid land under the KHADC (Administration and Regulation of Land) Act, 2021, aiming to prevent the large-scale transfer of community land and ensure that land remains available for poor and landless families.
KHADC Executive Member in charge of Land, Powel Sohkhlet, said the Land Amendment Bill was passed unanimously during the recently concluded session of the District Council and has now been forwarded to the Governor through the District Council Affairs Department for approval.
Sohkhlet said the amendment was necessary to safeguard land belonging to Himas, Raids and villages, which had previously been transferred without adequate regulation.
He noted that over the years, the absence of restrictions allowed hundreds and even thousands of acres of community land to be allotted to a few wealthy individuals and groups, defeating the purpose for which such land was meant.
Under a notification issued on July 11, 2026, KHADC has fixed the maximum area of Raid land that may be allotted for different purposes:
Homestay – 2 acres
Industry – 4 acres
Resort/Hotel – 4 acres
Agriculture/Horticulture – 10 acres
Educational Establishment – 8 acres
School – 10 acres
College – 10 acres
University – 15 acres
Vocational Institute – 5 acres
Fisheries – 3 acres
Animal Husbandry – 3 acres
Cash Crop Plantation – 12 acres
Hospital/Nursing Home/Wellness Centre – 5 acres
Sports Academy/Stadium/Sports Complex – 5 acres
Religious Institution – 5 acres
Commercial Establishment – 5 acres
Sohkhlet clarified that these ceilings represent only the maximum permissible area and do not compel Himas, Raids or villages to allot the full extent of land. They remain free to allot smaller areas depending on local circumstances.
He said the ceiling provision under Section 16 of the 2021 Act was introduced after extensive consultations with Syiems, Myntris, Sordars, Rangbah Shnongs and other traditional authorities.
One of the key provisions of the amendment is the creation of a Land Bank to benefit poor and landless families. According to Sohkhlet, traditional authorities welcomed the proposal, which would allow families without land to receive plots for housing and cultivation.
The Council is also considering extending land allocation benefits to eligible beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and other government housing schemes.
Sohkhlet clarified that the amendment will not restrict the allotment of community land to the State Government, Central Government or the District Council for public development projects such as hospitals and other essential infrastructure.
He added that if Himas, Raids or villages wish to allot land exceeding the prescribed ceiling for projects such as industries, hotels, resorts, homestays or schools, they may do so after obtaining approval from the KHADC Executive Committee.
Responding to criticism circulating on social media, Sohkhlet said the Bill had received unanimous support from both the ruling and opposition members of the District Council, indicating broad consensus on the need to protect community land.