Nongpoh, Jul 2: The Khasi Students Union (KSU) in Ri-Bhoi has reiterated its opposition to the construction of a food court at Umling on the site originally earmarked for a facilitation centre even after holding an extensive meeting with the Ri-Bhoi district administration on Thursday.
The centre had originally been set up as an entry/exit checkpoint and then a Covid-19 screening site. While the latter was no longer necessary after the seriousness of the pandemic reduced, the former purpose was ruled invalid after being challenged in the courts.
With the passage of time, the site, near Meghalaya’s border with Assam, became derelict. The Meghalaya government is now redeveloping the site into a modern commercial food court that will feature international brands but the KSU is staunchly opposed to this and has opined that the area should only be used to keep a check on influx.
The pressure group forcibly halted ongoing construction work at Umling yesterday. In order to bring the two sides to a resolution, a meeting was convened today by Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Saini. The discussion centred on the state government’s decision to alter the original purpose of the land.
Also in attendance from the government’s side were Superintendent of Police Giri Prasad, Ri-Bhoi Tourism Officer B Nongkynrih, Umling Block Development Officer Erick Dkhar and members of the KSU.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, which lasted for several hours, KSU district president Ferdinald Kharkamni clarified that the union is not opposed to the food court project itself but stressed that it would not allow it to be constructed on land that had long been designated for the facilitation centre, a project for which the KSU had campaigned over the years as part of its broader demand for the effective implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) until the Inner Line Permit (ILP) is introduced.
“We welcome such a project but it should be built elsewhere in Ri-Bhoi. This particular site was identified and accepted as the location for the facilitation centre after years of struggle. We cannot allow its purpose to be changed,” Kharkamni said.
Recalling the history of the project, Kharkamni said the KSU had been demanding the implementation of the ILP since 2013. Following amendments to the MRSSA in 2016, the government in 2019 proposed setting up an entry and exit point on a 15-acre plot at 19th Mile. However, because the site was located on difficult terrain, an alternative location was identified at Umling on nearly 2 acres of land belonging to the Transport Department.
Although the original plan of the facilitation centre was to also have a cafeteria where travellers could rest and refresh themselves, the KSU bemoaned that now the entire site is set to be given over to a food court, “which defeats the original purpose of the project.”
Kharkamni said such a centre is essential for regulating the entry of visitors through proper verification of documents. He further suggested that additional land be acquired from the Transport Department to ease traffic congestion and expand the facility. According to the KSU, if used as a facilitation centre, the site has the potential to enhance surveillance and help authorities curb illegal activities, particularly drug trafficking.
The KSU also questioned the district administration’s claim that the food court would create local jobs. According to Kharkamni, there were already locals who were employed at the entry/exit/Covid centre and the KSU wanted to know how they were looked after when the Umling site was shut down.
“Any development project is bound to create jobs. But our question is, how many youths from Ri-Bhoi have actually secured employment at roadside dhabas, petrol pumps and similar establishments? If employment is the government’s justification, then where are the 32 youths who were appointed as data entry operators when the facilitation centre became operational? What happened to the other local youths who were reportedly employed there as announced by the government?” he asked.
