Shillong, July 13: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday said that establishing an entry-exit gate at Umling is not a challenge, but stressed that such a facility would only be effective if backed by a robust legal framework to regulate and enforce checks.
Responding to Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira’s proposal to establish a tourist registration centre at Umling amid growing concerns over “unabated influx” into the state, the Chief Minister said that infrastructure alone would not address the issue.
“Setting up an entry-exit point is not a problem. We can establish it today or tomorrow. The real issue is having a legal mechanism that enables us to implement and effectively enforce the checks that are required,” Sangma told reporters.
He said the proposed amendment to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) is intended to provide the necessary legal backing for such enforcement.
“Putting up a gate is not the issue. The important question is how it will be enforced, what kind of checks will be carried out, and under what legal authority. Simply opening a gate and posting personnel there will not solve the problem,” he said.
The Chief Minister further stated that the government is actively working on the proposed MRSSA amendment, which is expected to strengthen the state’s ability to regulate entry in a lawful and effective manner.
“As I said, for the system to become truly effective in the way we envision, certain groundwork needs to be completed. That is precisely what the MRSSA amendment is meant to achieve. We are working on it, and we hope for the best,” Sangma added.
Also watch
