SHILLONG: Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said on Tuesday Meghalaya is the most beautiful state in the country and its people too are beautiful making the place a perfect destination for tourists.
The Minister, who laid the foundation stone for the Rs 90-crore state-of-the-art Integrated Check Post (ICP) on Tuesday, said the ICP should be used not only for economic activities but it should also facilitate tourist movement to and from Bangladesh.
The Minister said the Land Customs Station at Dawki had existed in a very informal way and the trade was informal too benefitting a few people.
The ICP is expected to benefit businesses directly and indirectly and it will be a hinterland of prosperity where local horticultural and agricultural products will fetch a better price than they do today.
“For a long time we have been living on subsistence level. It is now time to scale up our livelihoods,” he added.
The ICP Project is expected to be completed by 2018. Calling on the Project Construction Agency Rijiju said his Government will not brook any delay beyond the two-year period and if possible the firm should try to complete it before time.
The MoS Home said there is not much difference between Bangladesh and India except for the borders and both countries stand to gain for cross border trade.
“We can create a state of the art ICP but without the coordination with Bangladesh it would be futile. Land ports unlike sea ports or airports need the collaboration of the neighbouring country. That does not mean we will be caught off guard as far as immigration is concerned. Immigration laws will be strictly followed through legal means and procedures,” Rijiju said.
Lauding the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for fighting Jehadi elements and building a relationship with India, Rijiju said there is need for seamless coordination between the two countries and also between Myanmar, China and the other neighbouring countries.