From Our Correspondent
TURA: Influx in Meghalaya is a major concern especially in the plain belt areas of Garo Hills. This reality has come to the fore even as posters for the Assam Panchayati Raj and Assam Legislative Assembly Elections can be seen pasted in the interstate border areas of Phulbari, Rajabala and Chibinang in West Garo Hills.
Frequent flash floods originating in Assam and affecting the people of Garo hills have forced many to seek asylum in Garo Hills, especially in the plain belt areas bordering Assam. These refugees do not go back to Assam but try to merge into the states eligible electorate alleged NGO leaders. These unchecked illegal migrations has become a chronic dilemma in Garo Hills and is on the long run having adverse affects on the socio economic structure of the people residing in the Meghalaya-Assam borders, they added.
Leaders of NGOs comprising of the GSU, FKJGP and various other Civil Societies also alleged that these refugees who reside in the plain belt areas bordering Assam become dual voters casting their votes both in Assam and in Meghalaya.
A memorandum to correct this anomaly was submitted to Meghalaya Chief Minister and the Election Commission through Sanjay Goyal the then Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills and the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council Chief Executive Member but till date there has been no positive response stated the NGO leaders.
