The government was "playing with religious sentiments," opposition leader Conrad Sangma said and condemned the move.
"The government should settle the issue at the earliest. If required the land should be handed over to the churches. There are many other illegal structures against whom the government should act," Sangma said.
He said the administration did not realise that describing churches as "unauthorised has hurt religious sentiments in the district where Baptists constitute a huge chunk of the population."
In a recent communique to urban planning officials, the district administration of West Garo Hills sought an "on spot inspection and verification of six unauthorized churches in the district."
The administration sought details like year of construction, area occupied, area encroached of the churches, mostly located in Tura and Dakupgre.