R.S. Mooshahary

Shillong, March. 10: Meghalaya Governor R.S. Mooshahary today said a comprehensive action plan would be drawn up by the government to tackle the problem of illegal influx of foreign nationals.

Addressing the first day of the budget session in the state Assembly, Mooshahary said the government was also committed to completing the fencing along the international border expeditiously and addressing the genuine problems of people residing in the border areas.

His statement assumed significance in the context of frequent demand of NGOs in the state to check influx.

A cabinet sub-committee on influx had also recommended the need to introduce identity cards to migrant labourers coming to the state.

Though the governor did not specify the details of the plan to check influx from neighbouring Bangladesh, several initiatives are in the pipeline.

The NGOs in the state have been opposing fencing in certain areas of the international border, saying the villagers would lose vast areas of cultivable land in the process.

The governor, however, said the problems of people residing in border areas would be kept in mind while carrying out the fencing.

On the law and order front, Mooshahary said the state had generally been stable and peaceful “with the exception of the unfortunate ethnic clashes which occurred recently, in East Garo Hills, resulting in regrettable loss of life, damage, loss of property and dislocation of a large number of people”.

According to Mooshahary, besides taking immediate steps to provide shelter and other essential commodities in relief camps, the government also sanctioned Rs 2.75 crore to extend relief to the affected households as well as ex-gratia to the next of kin of those who had lost their lives.

“The situation in the affected areas has almost returned to normal, with a majority of families having returned to their villages,” Mooshahary said.

In the context of the Assam police firing in Langpih on the Assam-Meghalaya border last year, the governor said the situation along the border was being monitored closely and the chief ministers and chief secretaries of both states were continuing in their efforts to resolve the inter-state issues.

“The committee of chief secretaries is in the process of finalising their recommendations to the chief ministers,” he said.

“Activities of various militant outfits in the state are being monitored. The government will take all steps to ensure that such groups are neutralised,” Mooshahary said.