Shillong, Jul 10: The Meghalaya government has said the proposed facility at Umling is primarily intended to function as a ‘tourist registration centre’, dismissing concerns that it is merely a food court project.
Tourism Minister Timothy D Shira said the government plans to establish a facilitation-cum-tourist registration centre at Umling, with similar facilities proposed in other parts of the state, including Garo Hills.
The clarification comes nine days after the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) halted construction work at the site over reports that a food court was being developed there. The pressure group is staunchly opposed to this and has opined that the area should only be used to keep a check on influx.
The Umling facility had been set up originally 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. It was built at a cost of around Rs 2.7 crore and the prefabricated structure was inaugurated in 2020.
Explaining the new project, Shira said the building will have two rooms dedicated to the registration of tourists entering the state. He added that the restaurant is only a supporting facility for visitors who may have to wait while completing the registration process.
“Tourists may have to spend some time during registration, so they will be able to use the restaurant that is being created there,” the minister said.
According to Shira, the registration system is aimed at collecting details of visitors entering Meghalaya, including verifying their identity, travel purpose and whether they possess the required documents.
He said the proposed mechanism would function on the lines of the checks carried out in states such as Nagaland, where visitors undergo a verification process before entering.
“It will be almost like the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in terms of registration and verification,” he said.
Following the disruption of work by the KSU, the Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi district held discussions with the student body, urging it not to obstruct the ongoing construction.
With ILP yet to be granted by the central government to Meghalaya, a further legal challenge may be in the offing if the state again attempts to check the antecedents of Indian citizens, which was a primary argument against the entry/exit checkpoint.
On the status of the matter, Shira said the state government has already responded to the court’s observations and is pursuing the required legal process.
