KSU says Umling entry-exit centre is being squeezed by food court plan

The Khasi Students' Union (KSU) has again objected to the layout of the proposed Facilitation Centre at Umling in Ri-Bhoi district, saying the government's current plan gives more room to a food court and other facilities than to the centre's main job of tracking people entering and leaving Meghalaya.

KSU's central leaders and members of its North Khasi Hills district unit inspected the site on Tuesday, November 10, at the invitation of the district administration, The Shillong Times reported.

Who attended

Officials present included Umling C&RD Block Development Officer Eric Kevin Dkhar, Ri-Bhoi Tourist Officer B. Nongkynrih, District Transport Officer E. Kharmon, senior police officers and representatives of Briwar Resorts, the firm building the facility.

Union's objections

Speaking to reporters afterwards, KSU president Raymond Kharjana said the arrangements on the ground did not match what the union had earlier discussed with the state government. He was accompanied by general secretary Reuben Najiar, vice-president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and North Khasi Hills district president Ferdynald Kharkamni.

Kharjana said the main purpose of the centre was to implement the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), which provides for monitoring the entry and exit of non-residents. He alleged that the space allotted to the facilitation centre itself was too small, while areas meant for unrelated uses had been given three to four times as much room.

The KSU also asked whether several government departments, including Tourism, Labour, Infiltration and Education, would be housed inside the limited space. According to the union, officials did not give satisfactory answers, and the inspection ended without a resolution from its point of view.

'Christmas gift'

Kharjana said the union had expected this to be the final inspection, especially after Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma assured it that the facilitation centre would be ready as a "Christmas gift".

The state government and the district administration had not publicly responded to the union's latest objections as of Wednesday morning.

Why Umling matters

Umling lies on the Guwahati-Shillong road (NH-6) in Ri-Bhoi, the main road entry into Meghalaya from Assam. Pressure groups led by the KSU have long demanded a mechanism to check entry into the state, and a facilitation centre at the gateway has been one of their key demands. Separately, poultry farmers this week demanded a veterinary quarantine check post at Umling.