By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 12: The relocation of CRPF camps remain in limbo as they are unwelcome in Mawlai, and equally resisted in New Shillong. Mawlai residents had appealed for the removal of the camps, but their demand has clashed directly with opposition from communities in New Shillong Township, who resist having the camps moved to their neighbourhood.
This push-and-pull has left the government’s relocation plan hanging for over three years.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong told the Assembly on Friday that despite a decision in 2022 to consolidate temporary camps into one site at New Shillong Township, the process stalled after local Dorbar Shnongs raised objections.
Ten acres had already been identified and almost finalised for the camp before the opposition forced the government to halt.
Tynsong said talks with traditional heads would be revived to resolve the impasse, as the government had already earmarked the land for CRPF use. He added that 50 acres had also been sanctioned for a separate Meghalaya Police Security Complex. Seeking to clear misconceptions, he explained that the CRPF was not comparable to the BSF or Assam Rifles. Instead, he said, it functioned more like a state battalion, deployed as needed to manage daily challenges.
With fewer than 400 personnel stationed in Shillong and Tura, their operations were under the state government’s full control.
He urged legislators to help their constituents understand this distinction, stressing that the land would remain government-owned even after the camp was set up.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, VPP legislator Brightstarwell Marbaniang pointed out that the presence of the camp in Mawlai had been contentious since 2021.
He reminded the House of an incident in 2022 near the temporary site that spiralled into a law-and-order situation, prompting community leaders to meet the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister. At that time, he said, the government had assured that the camp would be shifted from Mawlai, but the promise had yet to be fulfilled.