MIDC refutes reports on Umtham land acquisition

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 21, 2025

The Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (MIDC) has strongly denied media reports alleging that it is acquiring land in Umtham village, Ri Bhoi district, at inflated prices.

On August 18, a local daily reported that MIDC was in the process of purchasing 14 acres of land at Umtham for Rs 450 per square foot—amounting to Rs 21 crore. The following day, another Khasi daily repeated the allegation, claiming the rate was even higher.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, MIDC clarified that the reports are “completely false and baseless,” asserting that it has “no plans, proposals, or efforts to acquire land at Umtham or anywhere else in Ri Bhoi at this stage.”

The Corporation urged media houses to verify facts before publication, stressing that “unverified information not only misleads the public but also amounts to spreading fake news and unjustly tarnishes the reputation of the Corporation.”