By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has asserted that insurgency, extortion and other anti-national activities would not be tolerated and will be dealt with a firm hand.
“There will be zero tolerance on anyone who tries to create the law and order problem in the State,” Dr Sangma said after unfurling the National Flag on the occasion of Independence Day here on Monday.
“We have enjoyed a relatively stable and peaceful situation ever since Megha-laya attained statehood. But we need to be even more vigilant as some fissiparous groups are raising their ugly heads,” Dr Sangma said.
Laying special emphasis on building an environment of peace, harmony and goodwill, the Chief Minister said, “if there are genuine grievances, they can always be raised, discussed and solution found through Constitutional means”.
“Under no circumstance, their nefarious designs will be allowed to succeed,” Dr Sangma said adding, “The militant groups should see the writing on the wall.”
The Chief Minister said if the groups care for the interest of the community, they should “surrender and join us in finding solutions to the problems and difficulties of the society.”
On the vexed boundary issue with Assam, he said it was being addressed through the process of dialogue between the chief secretaries of the two states.
“We have also requested the Central Government to constitute a boundary commission to settle this problem,” he said.
Referring to the Indo-Bangladesh border, he said “a joint survey of the areas under adverse possession is underway as present, and we have sought the intervention of the Central Government in this regard.”
On the contentious issue of influx, he informed that a high-level task force under him was constituted recently.
The Chief Minister also informed that the Government also intended to try out some new innovative technologies and one such attempt would be the moisture-to-water project, where water would be manufactured from moisture in the atmosphere.
“The project will also have a component of power generation from bio-waste,” he said.
“The Government is also intending to introduce the community water purification project where purified drinking water will be supplied to the community at a nominal cost in the urban centres,” Chief Minister said.
“Our Government has decided to establish the Meghalaya State Employment Promotion Council and launch the State Employment Mission,” Chief Minister announced.
Dr Mukul also informed that the Government would initiate a new scheme under which financial assistance will be provided to physically challenged persons, infirm and widows from the current year.
It may be mentioned in this address Chief Minister also spoke on the Integrated Basin Development & Livelihoods Programme and other Missions, climate change among various other issues.
