By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary has admitted that the activities of GNLA have posed a serious challenge to peace and development but the Government would do everything possible to neutralize it.
Delivering his customary address in the Assembly during the inaugural day of the budget session on Friday, Mooshahary said that action against the members of the banned outfit and those who are found to be supporting in raising funds for the militant group would be initiated as per the provision of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
“Sustained efforts would be taken by the Government to neutralise activities of the other militant outfits,” Mooshahary said while adding that the State police with the assistance of the Central Agencies, is taking all steps in order to effectively counter anti-national and criminal activities.
However, the Governor has observed that the 443-km long border with Bangladesh poses its own problem in terms of influx, smuggling and easy transit routes to the militant groups of the region.
Taking all these factors into consideration, he said that it would be the priority of the Government to see the expeditious completion of the fencing of the international border with Bangladesh.
Mooshahary however informed that the State Government has also taken up with the Centre to intensify patrolling along the border and where human habitation and settlements are located near the border to erect the fencing along the Zero line.
He said the government has also taken steps to deal with the problem of influx with the constitution of district level task forces.
While talking about the newly-launched State Flagship Programme – the Integrated Basin Development & Livelihood Promotion Programme (IBDLP), Mooshahary said that the Government is committed to facilitate the newly launched flagship programme to facilitate sustainable livelihoods by leveraging upon the strengths of the State and the availability of abundant human and natural resources.
While informing that tax contributes 70 per cent of the total revenue collection in the State, he said that in this current fiscal year, there has been an increase in the tax collection to the tune of Rs 49.56 crore despite the reduction of the Central Sales TA from 3 per cent to 2 per cent and also reduction of tax on tea from 12 per cent to 4 per cent
“As a means for providing relief to the public and poorer section of the society, the Government had brought down the cost of LPG kerosene and diesel and as a result there is loss of revenue to the tune of Rs 9.52 crore,” Mooshahary said.
On Power, he said that the Government would continue to extend support to the MeECL for further up scaling their generation capacity and for strengthening the distribution and transmission network.
On the Health and Family Welfare, Governor said there are still a number of hurdles which needs to be overcome to achieve the desired objective health for all.
“The government is constructing the Cancer wing in the Civil Hospital, Shillong and the work is in progress. For reduction of maternal mortality rate, mechanism has been developed to increase the ante-natal and post natal care coverage,” he said.
“Setting up medical college is the priority of this government and the process for setting up one medical college in Shillong on PPP model and another on the government sector at Tura is in progress,” he informed.
Mooshahary said that government would further explore and tap the potential in human resources development to generate employment.
“Towards this end, investment will be designed to revive Shillong in particular and Meghalaya in general as a premier educational hub,” he said.