Shillong, Sept 6: Legislators cutting across party lines pleaded with the government to impress upon the union government for introducing its own IAS and IPS cadres instead of the joint Assam-Meghalaya cadres.
The legislators also felt that there is a need for introducing ‘special police battalion’, ‘inter-state border area development department’, ‘incentivized packages’ as steps towards addressing the security and developmental aspects along the inter-state border with Assam as well as International border with Bangladesh.
Nongkrem legislator Ardent M Basaiawmoit, who moved the motion, raised the issue Thursday assembly session.
Jaiaw legislator Paul Lyngdoh also joined during the discussion and said, “I fervently plead Meghalaya to fight for its own ‘cadre’ by vacating the ‘joint-cadre’ when Tripura state which was formed with Meghalaya in 1972 is going to have its own cadre after recent resolution passed in Parliament.”
Speaking about managing the inter-state as well international border, Lyngdoh said it is important how we take care of our land and felt that land registration should be made simple and accessible to the people living along the border areas with dedicated ‘police-battalion’ mandated with the task of protecting as well as ensuring security in the border should be set up.
Speaking about incentives to be given to government servants willing to work in the border areas, Lyngdoh felt that government need to introduce a ‘special package’ and ‘scheme’ with high financial rewards for those willing to serve in the border areas within a minimum of three years”.
Opposition leader Conrad K Sangma also joined in the discussion and stressed the need for the creation of the ‘inter-state border area development department’ to ensure that the funds allocated to the border areas are implemented. He said there is a huge ‘disconnection’ between people living in the border and the district administration.
Saying that border issue is serious, Sangma suggested that the government must compartmentalized the problem into smaller ones by taking security as one, followed by development programmes and instilling confident in the border. He felt this was fifty per cent of the problem can be solved.
Replying to the suggestion Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said government is devising a much and more effective and feasible mechanism to tackle the problem of influx and illegal immigration which are a threat to the security aspect of the people and the state”.
Pointing to the creation of the ‘Directorate of Infiltration’ in the state, it will help in checking illegal infiltrators, surveillance of foreigners and check outsider with doubtful credentials as well as verifying new comers into the state”.
Sangma also revealed that the government has prepared a proposal for upgradation of police stations and establishing police stations along the inter-state as well as the international borders”. Giving figures he said a total of 17 full-fledged police stations at an estimated cost of Rs 143 crores and establishment of police units at a cost of Rs 301 crores to be set up at the inter-state border with Assam and international border with Bangladesh have been proposed in a phase manner for three years.
Regarding the security in the borders Sangma assured that the institution mechanism have been created where the district administration from both side (Assam and Meghalaya) are requested to conduct a joint visit to the border areas for creating an environment to live with a sense of security among the border populace. –By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours