SHILLONG, JUL 13: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said setting up a physical entry-exit point at Umling is not the challenge, but putting in place a legal mechanism to enforce checks is.
The CM was responding to Tourism Minister Timothy D Shira’s statement on setting up a tourist registration centre at Umling, which comes amid recent opposition to a proposed food court and demands for an entry-exit point to check what was termed “unabated influx” into the state.
“Getting an entry-exit point is not an issue. We can set it up today, we can set it up tomorrow. The question is about having a legal mechanism to implement and actually enforce a checking that should happen,” Sangma told reporters.
He said the real problem lies in enforcement.
“So, that is where the problem and the challenge is and that is where we are hoping that the amendment of the Meghalaya Residents, Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) will then allow us to have that system in place,” he said.
The Chief Minister stressed that infrastructure alone will not solve the issue.
“So, putting up a gate is not an issue at all but making it and enforcing it to check and what kind of checking takes place that is a key issue. So, opening a gate tomorrow and having people sitting there is not going to solve the problem,” Sangma said.
He agreed with the tourism minister that a registration centre is needed, but added that effectiveness depends on legal backing.
“He is right in the sense that we are going to set up but as I said for it to become actually effective in the way that we would want it to be, that requires some work to be done which is what the MRSSA amendment was supposed to be. We are working on it, let’s hope for the best,” the CM added.
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