Mukul meets pro-ILP groups
SHILLONG: The State government has directed the committee headed by deputy chief minister Rowell Lyngdoh to submit its recommendations within one month and start the land acquisition process for developing the already identified ‘entry and exit’ points to address the issue of influx and illegal immigration.
“We have agreed to give one month time to the committee to complete its exercise,” Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told reporters after a meeting with 13 pro-ILP pressure groups here on Friday.
The committee headed by the Deputy Chief Minister has been asked to work on few required amendments to further strengthen the existing Prohibition of Benami Transaction Act, 1980.
The state government has constituted three committees to come up with a comprehensive mechanism to address the issue of influx and illegal immigration in the state.
Meanwhile, the pro-ILP groups also decided to wait for the committee headed by the Deputy Chief Minister to complete its task.
“We have decided to wait for the committee to submit its report. We are expecting to meet again in January next year,” KSU president Daniel Khyriem told newsmen after the meeting with the Chief Minister. “We will decide our next course of action after hearing from the Government in the next meeting,” he said.
Stating that the Government has identified a total number of 18 exit and entry points in Khasi and Jaintia Hills and 23 in Garo Hills, Khyriem said that there should be more entry and exit points in Garo Hills, Ri-Bhoi (North Khasi Hills) and Jaintia Hills.
Khyriem said that two other committees — one headed by Chief Secretary PBO Warjri and another headed by Additional Director General Police SK Jain — had completed their assigned task.
“We are hopeful that the Deputy Chief Minister will put all efforts to complete the job within the stipulated time of one month,” the KSU president said.
Besides the recommendation for entry and exit points identified by Addl. DGP SK Jain-led committee the meeting also discussed on amendments to be made on the provisions of Benami Transaction Act and Tenancy Verification Bill. During the meeting the Chief Secretary P B O Warjri stressed on the need to engage the District Councils and Traditional institutions while going ahead with the Tenancy Bill.
The Chief Minister also assured the groups present in the meeting that necessary directions would be given to all departments concerned to take on their responsibilities on priority basis as the government was firm on containing the problems of influx.
He also suggested on the need to have some other filtering mechanism for people “swarming” into the State on foot as stated by one of the NGOs.