By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister Rowell Lyngdoh has said that the Inner line Permit in its present form cannot be implemented as “it is a British law dating back to 1800s.”
“Why should we follow a regulation which was enacted during the British regime and we should not forget that we are living in a modern society”, Lyngdoh told reporters here on Monday.
According to Lyngdoh, the existing laws including labour act could be strengthened to tackle influx of illegal migrants.
Moreover, he said that the proposed tenancy law can also be a tool to deal with the issue of influx.
“Imagine a situation where visitors have to obtain permits just to see Cherrapunjee , Shillong and other tourist places of Meghalaya,” Lyngdoh said.
Lyngdoh, who is active in state politics since 1972, said that the ILP system was never implemented in areas under Assam considering its practical difficulties.
Echoing a similar view Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma described the concept of restrictions as outdated.
“It (ILP) is no longer an effective mechanism to check influx. This is a concept which was initiated during the British rule and has outlived its efficacy. So, implementation of ILP is not going to help any longer,” Sangma told newsmen Monday on the sidelines of the North East CleanTech Summit in Guwahati. (With inputs from IANS)
