By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government will carry out a comprehensive study to ascertain whether the increase in the population of the State is a result of illegal immigration due to influx.
In reply to a question by Jemino Mawthoh (UDP) in the Assembly on Wednesday, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma admitted that there was no specific study conducted to prove that the increase in the population of the State is a result of illegal immigration.
According to Dr Sangma, the Government has constituted various committees to chalk out a comprehensive mechanism to deal with the issue of influx, while adding that Central Government has sanctioned 180 check posts including 4 watch posts, 10 patrol posts, 4 pass port check posts, 12 additional check posts and even the State Government has sanctioned 85 posts to check infiltration.
He said that the Government is taking various steps to address the issue of influx while assuring the Assembly that the Government is according top priority to addressing the issue of influx.
Referring to the abnormal increase in population in the State, NPP legislator James Sangma said that as per the 2011 Census, the population of the State is 29.64 lakh which comes to 27.82 per cent decadal growth.
As per records, Meghalaya occupies the third position in terms of the highest decadal growth of population in India.
To a question regarding the implementation of three-tier card system in the State, Dr Sangma said the three-tier card was a recommendation of the committee on influx and the matter was under examination.
He also informed that the Government has come up with a proposal of appointing labour inspectors in 39 blocks for which recruitment process is on.
He also stated that the Government has formed task forces in seven districts of the State (with the exception of the new districts) to check influx, while adding that the deputy commissioners are the chairmen and the SPs are the vice chairmen of the task forces.