Shillong, Nov. 24: The Meghalaya government today constituted a state task force to promoting the state as a shooting destination as a follow-up to chief minister D.D. Lapang’s recent visit to Mumbai.

Lapang, during his recent tour to Mumbai, met several film personalities to explore the possibility of inviting them to shoot films in Meghalaya.

The commissioner and secretary to the state industries department, A. Som, in a statement issued this evening said the decision to constitute the task force was taken considering the state’s potential as an ideal location for film shooting.

While the chairman of the task force will be Lapang, deputy chief minister Mukul Sangma will be the co-chairman. Besides the senior government officials, filmmakers Subhash Ghai, N. Chandra and Shyam Benegal, actor Suneil Shetty, state entrepreneurs Larsing Ming Sawian, Sweety Pala and Arlene Sangma will be the other members.

Filmmaker Yash Chopra will be the special invitee to the task force. Som will be its convenor and member secretary.

According to the notification issued today, the task force will prepare the policy for branding Meghalaya as a film destination, give inputs to the industries department to prepare a catalogue and brochures for promotional activities besides deciding on the state’s participation in film festivals both at the national and international levels.

The task force will also discuss the possibility of setting up a film city in the state on the lines of Film City Mumbai and Ramoji Film City Hyderabad. It will also identify at least 10 top locations in the state to facilitate film shooting in the state.