SHILLONG: The state government has decided to suggest the railway authorities to put the railway project on hold to dispel all kinds of mistrust and misgiving before resumption of work.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the 13-NGOs on Wednesday, the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said, “We will be indicating to the railways to hold on the work and resume as soon as comprehensive measures are put in place which will be very soon.”
The CM spoke of the Meghalaya Residents’ Safety and Security Act and the Prohibition of Benami Transaction Act.
He pointed out to the Meghalaya Residents’ Safety and Security Act which, according to him, is “a law which can deal with a number of concerns.”
“Another supplementary Act which needs to be effectively enforced is the Prohibition of Benami Transaction Act which has been amended effectively,” he added.
“The Prohibition of Benami Transaction Act will require little more exercise with the enforcing agency. As far as the Meghalaya Residents’ Safety and Security Act, we want to frame rules before the Independence Day so that we can share with the people that this law has been put in operation as the rules have been notified,” Sangma said.
He stated that the rules for the Meghalaya Residents’ Safety and Security Act would be announced and notified on Independence Day. However, another round of discussion with the NGOs will be held before the rules are notified.
“When it is notified and enforced it will require huge mobilization of stakeholders and local authorities. It is a gigantic task,” he added.
Entry/ exit points: Speaking of entry/exit points, Sangma said, “Every entry/exit point will be required to be taken in possession of after completion of the entire land acquisition process.”
“Some of the identified entry/exit points require longer time for in respect of land acquisition but some of the entry/exit points that we have identified- two in East Jaintia Hills at Malidor and Ratacherra, one in West Khasi Hills at Athiabari, in West Garo Hills are in a very advanced stage,” he said.
Sangma said that the state government has requested for land in the premises of railway station at Mendipathar where an infrastructure for facilitation center will be set up.
“Wherever there would be a railway station including the one at Mendipathar, the space and land for the construction of facilitation center shall be provided within the premises of the railway station,” he added
He added that the setting up of entry/exit points will be a continuous process and the current was being the Phase-I.
The Chief Minister maintained that the government was addressing the collective concern of the people of the state in regard to the most contentious issue regarding illegal immigration and influx.
“To deal with the issue of influx and illegal immigration, there cannot be a single measure/intervention but it must be a multi-pronged and comprehensive strategy,” he said.
The CM said that the complexity will arise in dealing with issue of illegal immigration and influx due to the 443 km long Meghalaya-Bangladesh border and long inter-state boundary with Assam.
When asked on the sudden resurfacing of railway issue for the last six months, Sangma said, “I don’t want to attribute it to anything.”
NGOs’ stand
The 13-NGOs while speaking to media persons later at Shillong Club asserted that they would monitor as to whether the comprehensive mechanisms were strong or not to tackle the issue of influx in the state.
Lambokstarwell Marngar, KSU president, however said that the organization would not budge from its demand for the implementation of Inner Line Permit system.
With regard to the issue of railways, the NGOs informed that the CM would meet them again for discussion.
Daniel Khyriem, former KSU president urged the government to expedite the implementation of setting up of entry/exit points in Phase-I.
