SHILLONG: Meghalaya Government is soon going to set up an entry and exit point in Mendipathar railway station for which verbal permission has been received and a written permission is being awaited.
Informing this here on Friday, Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma said that the Home Minister, James Sangma and Urban Affairs Minister Hamlet Dohling would soon visit the Railway station for inspection.
As far as setting up of entry and exit points in other places of the state is concern , the Chief Minister added that the Government has finalised the location of entry and exit points in four-five locations where traffic is more and in few months time, the work for the entry and exit points is likely to start in Ri Bhoi, East Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills, North Garo Hills and West Garo Hills
When asked about the growing demand for implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state, the Chief Minister said that there was no right or wrong mechanism which would be 100 percent foolproof in dealing with influx and illegal immigration but the Government would keep on improving and strengthening the system
According to Sangma, “Government is open to explore all ideas. The Government wants to balance the mechanism to ensure that illegal immigration does not take place and at the same time, it would not affect the economy of the state be it tourism or other investment.”
“ We are working to find out a best mechanism which will ensure a balance between two aspects of checking illegal immigration as well as not affecting the economy of the state, he said while adding that the Government will have to be careful and take all aspects into consideration
Reacting to a query, he said that entry and exit point is an infrastructure and ILP is a mechanism even as he added even if ILP was implemented in Meghalaya, it would require infrastructure and funds would be required for it
“ We are looking to have a system which will suit our people and state,” he added