Entry & exit points

SHILLONG, NOV 24: The Congress led state government on Tuesday directed all the deputy commissioners to identify land for construction of the entry/exit points, which is part of the comprehensive mechanism to curb influx and illegal immigration.

“We have directed all the deputy commissioners of the respective districts to identify land to facilitate construction of the entry/exit points,” chief minister Mukul Sangma told reporters after a meeting with the 13 pro-ILP groups on Tuesday.

He said, “They (DCs) have also been asked to negotiate with land owners and complete the process within a reasonable time.” According to him, the whole process for putting up the mechanism will be looked after by a Task Force, which is being headed by the Additional Chief Secretary in-charge political department.

Tuesday’s meeting was a follow up of the last meeting on the issue which was held on August 14, where the state government had set a 125-day timeline for implementation of the Phase-I & II of setting up of the entry/exit points.

Further, Sangma informed that some of the districts in Garo hills have proceeded in getting lands which include No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).

“However, except for North Garo hills, the land acquisition is still under process,” he said.

As far as Khasi hills region is concerned, the process of identifying the entry/exit points have been completed but NOCs from the KHADC for land acquisition is pending, while in Jaintia hills, the NOC from the respective district council have been received, Sangma informed.

He said, “After completing this whole process, the matter will be followed by social impact assessment, which will be done by the Meghalaya Institute of Governance, as a nodal agency.”

Sangma further informed that Tourism and PWD departments will also be involved in the process of construction of entry/exit points to ensure that these will not cause any inconveniences to visitors.

Informing that the issues related to legislative measures were also taken up during the course of discussion, Sangma, however, said, “The law department required more time to rename the amendment bill of the existing benami act and to fine tune the residential bill.”-By Our Reporter