Not all coming into Meghalaya are illegal immigrants, says CM Conrad Sangma

Speaking in a brief discussion at the conclusion of the Autumn Session of the Meghalaya Assembly, the Minister said, not all the people coming to Meghalaya are illegal immigrants and not all of them entering the state enters with wrong intentions. "We need to very careful in the process of finding one or two (foreigners) among hundreds because rest ninety-nine Indian citizens should not suffer because of this," Sangma said.

Making it clear that the facilitation center would also serve as a COVID-19 screening center, he said once the Facilitation Centre is ready, the district workforce will designate officers who will be in charge of the center, including officers from police, tourism, and other relevant departments.

The Centre will also appoint officers from the Health Department for COVID-19 screening.

For the establishment of these entry and exit points, a total of 24 locations were identified in Phase I, out of a total of 41, for the process of land acquisition is in various stages of progress.

While Nongpoh MLA, Mayralborn Syiem said that it would have been better if the entrance was built elsewhere near Byrnihat as the proposed entry point is being built well inside the area of Meghalaya.

Mawlai MLA, PT Sawki said, that ILP will be implemented indirectly in the state, with the entry and exit points. He also asked the government to authorize officers at the entry point to take action against any illegal immigrant.

He also stressed while emphasizing the need to focus on entry points to other parts of the state like Mendipathar in the West Garo Hills as migrants from Bangladesh might sneak if they were not completed on time.

The construction of the entry point at Umling is set to be completed this month.