Shillong, Nov 12: The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government on Tuesday sent the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 to Governor, Tathagata Roy for his assent.

The state cabinet had on November 1, approved the amendment to the Meghalaya Residents, Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 seeking mandatory registration of outsiders before entering Meghalaya.

“We have sent the ordinance to the Governor for his approval,” deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters.

The ordinance is yet to be implemented in the state as the government is still waiting for the governor’s approval.

Tynsong informed that the state government will also have to redraft the rules for implementing the ordinance.

According to him, the ordinance will be regularized in the next session of the state Assembly.

The deputy chief minister said that the amendment was not like the Inner Line Permit (ILP) but it is aimed at making registration mandatory for non-residents while entering the state.

Permanent residents of Meghalaya both tribals and non-tribals, as well central government employees and paramilitary forces are not covered by the registration process.

“Any person who is not a resident of Meghalaya and intend to stay more than 24 hours in the state will have to furnish information to the government. This is done for the interest and safety and security of all those who visit the state,” he said.

Tynsong also said that the rules will be circulated to hotels, guest houses and home stays to ensure that people visiting the state are registered with the government.

Maintaining that the ordinance is not to restrict people from entering the state, Tynsong said that people who intend to visit the state as tourists or for other purposes, should come with the knowledge of the government.

“We are making the registration process very simple by having both online and offline,” he informed.