SHILLONG: As final draft list of the National Register of Citizens was published in Assam on Monday, the Meghalaya Government has issued immediate instruction to the various district administrations to remain vigilant.
Talking to media persons here on Monday, Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong said that instruction had been issued to keep a check on the illegal immigration from Assam.
We need to remain alert since there are possibilities that these people who have been left out of the final draft list might try to enter into Meghalaya,” he said and added that the Deputy Commissioners in all the districts would give the necessary instructions up to the village level to remain vigilant in view of this development.
When asked whether the Government is contemplating updating the NRC in Meghalaya to verify the citizens residing in the State, he said that the Government was not looking to replicate the policy adopted by Assam Government.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister said that the Government was still on the job of completion of the entry and exit points as part of the comprehensive mechanism to curb influx and illegal immigration
.“We have also identified the areas of setting up of the entry and exit points across the State. A similar infrastructure will be set up even in railway stations once the railway line comes up in the State,” Tynsong said.
He, however, informed that the state government was facing tproblem to get the land in Ri-Bhoi district for the setting up of these entry and exit points.
“The land owners are not willing to part with the land. The new Deputy Commissioner in Ri-Bhoi is on the job to identify the land which is feasible to set up the entry and exit points. The land to be acquired should be near Byrnihat,” he said , adding that in the first phase, a total number of 22 plus exit and entry points would be set up across the State.