Govt committed towards setting up of facilitation centres Archives

Shillong, Nov 12: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday said that the State government was committed towards ensuring that the process of land acquisition and setting up of ‘Facilitation Centres’ is done at the earliest at all the entry and exit points.

“Twenty-four locations have been identified in the Phase I, out of a total of 41 for setting up of these entry and exit points, for which land acquisition process is at various stages of progress,” he said in reply to a shorth-duration discussion initiated by Opposition Congress legislator, Mayralborn Syiem.

The Chief Minister informed that the government has not stopped the construction of the entry point at Umling as per the report in the newspaper and said that the work for the construction already started and is due to be completed by November, 2020.

Sangma said that the government has prioritized the setting up of the entry point at Umling in Ri-Bhoi District as it is one of the main entry points to Meghalaya.

“It was with this in mind, the land belonging to the Transport Department at Umling was identified in 2019, as it was government land and was spacious to allow free movement of vehicles,” the Chief Minister said.

Sangma said that the government had sanctioned Rs 285.75 lakh for a pre-fabricated structure that will serve as a facilitation centre at the entry/exit Point.

“This decision was taken to ensure that the facilitation centre is completed at earliest, which will also ensure that it serves as a COVID-19 Screening Centre. The Centre will also house officials from the Health Department for COVID-19 screening,” he said.

Sangma further informed that the facilitation centre at Mendipathar Railway Station in North Garo Hills district is expected to be completed by December, 2020.

Land acquisition process in respect of entry and exit Point at Athiabari in West Khasi Hills district has been completed and land has been taken over by the Tourism Department, he said.

In West Jaintia Hills district, land has been identified in Khanduli and Saphai for setting up of entry/exit Points, the Chief Minister said, adding that the government has identified 5 locations in East Jaintia Hills for setting up of entry/exit points namely, Malidor, Ratacherra, Mooriap, Lakasein and Umkyrpong.

“At Ratacherra which is an important entry and exit point in the State, the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills has stated that the land belonging to the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) is suitable for the setting up of the Entry/Exit Point,” he said.

In West Garo Hills district, four locations have been identified at Medhipara, Abhirampara, Phulbari Ghat and Singimari Trijunction. In South West Garo Hills, of the three locations identified, Mirjumla, Junjuni (Boldamgre) and Aidoba (Janggal) Road, the land acquisition process in respect of Junjuni has been completed and land has been handed over to the Tourism Department.

In North Garo Hills district, seven locations namely, Dainadubi, Manikganj Mendipathar Railway Station, Mendipathar Bazar, Kaldang and Bajengdoba have been identified in Phase I.

“The State Government is keen to ensure that the setting up of the Facilitation Centres is done at the earliest so that the mechanism of checking influx as envisaged in the Meghalaya Resident Safety and Security Act, 2016 is strengthened,” the Chief Minister said.