SHILLONG, Oct 7: Opposition chief whip George B Lyngdoh has expressed concern over travellers reportedly being extorted on the national highways in the name of ‘entry tax’ for entry into Meghalaya and has asked the state government to roll up its sleeves and start acting before the dream of making Meghalaya a global tourist destination falls flat.
Referring to the recent incident of illegal collection of ‘entry tax’ by youths nearby Jorabat, Lyngdoh said that such incidents are condemnable and, at the same time, exposes the weakness of the state government in handling such kind of miscreants who have the audacity to stop vehicles and extort from citizens.
Maintaining that such incidents also show how people have little respect for administration and the police, Lyngdoh added, “Perhaps, this is all happening because people feel that now illegal activity can happen across the highway fully sponsored and supported by government authorities.”
“It is a very dangerous situation which will dilute all the hard work put in by the previous government to bring goodwill and bonhomie, and draw tourists to Meghalaya,” he added.
Lyngdoh also exhorted the state government to lay focus on good governance.
