Influx:Imposition of for’gner, tenancy acts

SHILLONG, JULY 4: The state government is examining the need to enforce the “Foreigners Act” and the “Tenancy Law” to put in place an effective mechanism with multiple results to tackle the menace of influx and illegal immigration in Meghalaya.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told reporters on Thursday after a high level meeting, “We have directed the Law and Labour departments to examine the need of having state laws in place to cover those areas which are not covered by the existing laws. This exercise is required to address the issue without conflicting with the existing laws of the land.”

The law and labour departments will meet next week to examine the enforcement of the foreigners act and Sangma informed that a team to enforce the act will also be put in place.

With Meghalaya sharing a total stretch of 465.387 kms of international border with Bangladesh, Sangma said there is a need to aggressively implement the foreigners act. He said, “The provision of law is very much relevant in the context of Meghalaya.”

The issue of influx has been raised on several occasions by ngos and in the state assembly.

Sangma informed that even as the chief secretary has been directed to hold meeting in this regard the department has been asked to start the process of drafting the Tenancy Law.

Sangma said that the tenancy law will help checking in influx as it will be one of the mechanism to check on people with doubtful credential that are entering the state by involving the house-owners who rents out their houses.

Sangma said, “It is important to verify the credential of people from outside and purpose of stay through the tenancy law which all house owners have to comply.” Sangma also said Meghalaya has become a safe place for criminals too.

On whether the government will introduce the Inner Line permit or the three tier card system, Sangma failing to give a direct answer and instead said, , “We want to come up with various acts with the objective to have a proper mechanisms in place that will be as a deterrence to illegal immigrations and influx.” – By Our Reporter