Nongpoh: The Central Executive Committee of the Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF) has disapproved the proposed plan of the state to set up the entry point (facilitation centre) at Umling stating that such a move will defeat the very objective of setting up the same.
The federation also submitted a letter to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma seeking his intervention to expedite the process of setting up of entry point at the original site selected earlier at 20 Mer and not at the government land located at Umling.
“The first criterion of an entry point is to set it up as close as possible to the interstate border for location takes precedence over topography, in such matter,” RBYF president, BP Thangkhiew said in a letter addressed to the chief minister.
Thangkhiew also stated that setting up of an entry point at Umling will make it an ineffective tool to fight influx as there are other roads before Umling such as the 20 Mer-Umdap-Nongpoh road and the 20 Mer-Narang-Patharkhmah-Mairang-Shillong road which gives unimpeded access to Nongpoh, Patharkhmah, Shillong and the rest of Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
The federation also expressed concerned over the lack of clarity on the part of the government for shifting from the original site and the entertainment of the unchecked bureaucratic interference which has impeded the entire process for setting up of entry point in Ri Bhoi District.
