SHILLONG, July 8: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has served a virtual “stop-work” notice to the state government at Umling, demanding that the entry point be used to filter illegal immigrants rather than serve tourists. The move follows a row over the alleged conversion of the Facilitation Centre into a commercial food court.
A KSU delegation from the North Khasi Hills district, led by president Ferdynald Kharkamni, met senior officials at the Secretariat on Wednesday to demand the immediate suspension of the project. The union argued that the food court would undermine the facility’s original purpose as a primary security gate for monitoring movement into Meghalaya.
Kharkamni told reporters that the union wants the government to operationalise the centre, which was inaugurated in December 2020 but quickly converted into a COVID-19 facility. Though handed back to the district administration in 2023, the multi-crore building has remained vacant for over a year.
“Instead of restoring the centre for its intended purpose, the government has initiated work for a food court,” Kharkamni said. He warned that the commercial venture would leave insufficient space for the infiltration check gate, the Labour Department’s registration office, and the tourism information centre.
The KSU raised concerns over the project’s footprint, noting that the food court is reportedly allotted 11,000 square feet of the total 28,000 square feet earmarked for the facility. Kharkamni alleged that ongoing excavation appears to extend beyond the sanctioned area, threatening the space required for other departments.
A significant discrepancy also emerged during the meeting. While officials maintained the project is not a food court, Kharkamni claimed that the drawings presented to the union clearly indicated otherwise. The KSU now plans to conduct a site inspection and has demanded a copy of the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
The union pointed out that relocating the infiltration check gate from Byrnihat to Umling is a priority, as the current gate on the highway causes persistent traffic congestion.
Following a review of the project documents, the KSU intends to meet Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to seek clarity on the implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016. Kharkamni stated that the government must prioritise strengthening entry regulations for migrant labourers and outsiders over commercial aesthetics.
