SHILLONG, NOV 21: Meghalaya government on Friday directed the committee headed by deputy chief minister Rowell Lyngdoh to complete its recommendations within one month and start the land acquisition process for developing the already identified ‘entry and exit’ points to address the issue of influx and illegal immigration.
“We have agreed to give more time to the committee to complete its exercise within a month,” chief minister Mukul Sangma told reporters after a meeting with the 13 ngos who have been demanding comprehensive mechanism to address the issue of influx.
The committee headed by Lyngdoh, has been given the responsibility to examine the need to amend ,if any, on the need to strengthen the existing Provisions of Benami Transaction Act and Tenancy Verification Bill.
The state government had constituted three committees to come up with a comprehensive mechanism to address the issue of influx and illegal immigration in the state and directed the committees to complete the task within two months. The deadline expired a month ago.
Sangma said, “The chairman (Lyngdoh) has expressed the need to further engage the district council and traditional institutions.” According to him it is appropriate that traditional institutions should also be involved in the process before ultimately finalizing the drafts so that everybody has the sense of ownership of whatever bill that will be drafted in the best interest of the people.
Sangma, however, informed that the committee has so far completed the process of discussion at the level of the district administration of various districts.
Sangma also informed that the committee headed by the Anti-Infiltration Directorate additional director general SK Jain has completed the process of identifying the location for setting up of the propose entry and exit points across the state.
While a total of 18 entry and exit points were identified in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, 23 were identified in Garo hills region, Jain informed in his presentation during the meeting on Friday.
“From the presentation itself, it is seen to be very exhaustive and comprehensive,” Sangma said while informing that he has directed the need to follow up with the land acquisition process in all those identified locations.
“Therefore all necessary measures will be taken up and subsequently, the land acquisition process will start,” Sangma informed.
During the meeting, the leaders of ngos have also suggested the need to have more entry and exit points in East Jaintia Hills, North Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi and Garo Hills.
“Few suggestions have come from them (ngos) and they will further examine if there is any felt need of anymore new additional entry and exit points and accordingly give their suggestions to the committee’s chairman,” Sangma said.
Asked on the status of the committee headed by the state chief secretary PBO Warjri, who was entrusted to examine the existing Meghalaya Land Transfer and Regulation Act (MLTRA), Sangma said the committee has completed its exercise and suggested no further amendment.
According to Sangma the committee stated that the land transfer Act already has inherent mechanism to tackle the issue in the interest of the local indigenous people of the state.
Speaking to reporters, KSU president Daniel Khyriem said, “We have expressed the need of having more entry and exit points in Jaintia Hills besides other places in order to ensure that illegal immigrants especially those from Bangladesh do not enter and will soon submit our suggestion on this.”
FKJGP president Joe Marwein said the ngos have urged the state government to speed up the process of coming up with the comprehensive mechanism in view of the fact there have been increasing inflow of influx and illegal immigration into the state.”
According to Marwein, the Benami Act is very important to protect and prevent the loss on the government’s exchequer by non-indigenous people who are taking advantage in the name of tribal people.
“Equally also, the tenancy bill which we as ngos prefer to call it as ‘residential bill’ will to a great extent regulate the inflow of illegal influx into the state, thereby making it mandatory for everybody who visit the state to have proper permission to stay,” Marwein said.
Adding to this, Khyriem said that this will also prevent people from getting a chance to illegally enroll their names in the electoral rolls of the state.- By Our Reporter
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