The responsibility of the Central Govt to ensure cattle smuggling is stopped at the IB: Dr Mukul

Shillong, March 10: The Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said, that it is the responsibility of the Central Government to ensure that cattle smuggling is stopped at the International borders of the State with Bangladesh.

Replying to a question raised by an Opposition Member belonging to Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), Ardent Basaiawmoit, the Chief Minister said the Central agencies like the Border Security Force and Customs Department are mandated to guard the International border.

In the past three years, as per Government records available, 28 cases of cattle smuggling were reported to State police by the BSF and the Customs department. However, Dr. Sangma said, the manner in which the International border is being guarded by these Central Government agencies is not good enough. Dr. Sangma said that not just cattle, but motorbikes and other items are being smuggled to Bangladesh and he has raised the issue with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on several occasions.

Providing further details of these interactions, the Chief Minister said, the Ministry of Home Affairs has informed that due to lack of manpower of the BSF, the international borders are not being guarded to the desired level. The BSF, therefore, wanted to raise additional battalions and since land could not be obtained by the state Government, the BSF also were unable to raise additional troops.

To another question raised by the Leader of the Opposition, Donkupar Roy, Dr. Sangma said, that the villages selected under the Special Purpose Vehicle society within the Lafarge Cement company mining area would be reviewed. Answering to a different questions, the Chief Minister informed the House that the process to create new police stations in the State, that the Government has proposed, would be completed by May this year.

To a query of Hill State People’s Democratic Party legislator, Witting Mawsor, Dr. Sangma said, that the proposed Rainagdo Police Station falling under Mawshynrut constituency would be made operational by May, so too for the other proposed police stations across the State.

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minster in-charge Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Dr. R.C. Laloo informed the House that there are 280 Government appointed wholesalers in the State. To the question asked by the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Laloo said these wholesalers were selected as per the norms laid down in the Meghalaya Food grains Control Order.The Deputy Chief Minister further informed that House that certain norms for appointment of the wholesalers have been changed since implementation of the National Food Security Act.

Under the changed guidelines, the wholesalers have to additionally have IT hardware and internet connectivity so that stock in their godown could be updated.  He further said that so far, 21 lakh beneficiaries have been identified under the National Food Security Act in the State and the process of further enrolment is on.

Regarding waste management, Minister in charge Urban Affairs, Ronnie V. Lyngdoh said the project of solid waste management which includes the segregation and transportation of waste is funded by the Asian Development Bank. The project is also being extended in areas of Shillong outside the Municipal jurisdiction, subject to the localities signing a MoU with the Urban Affairs department.

Informing the House that 11 localities so far have signed the agreement with the Urban Affairs department, Mr. Lyngdoh added, that the Dorbars of these localities signed the agreement after the Urban Affairs stated that status quo would be maintained with regards to their Sixth Scheduled status.

On the other hand, Minister in-charge Youth Affairs, Zenith Sangma informed the House that initiative has already begun to formulate the Youth Policy for the State.

Answering to a question raised by Hill State People’s Democratic Party legislator, Ardent Basaiawmoit, he said that assistance has been sought from the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute for Youth Development for formulating the policy. He further added that once the draft policy is ready it would be put in the public domain and opinions sought for a period of one month.

While Minister in-charge Power, Snewbhalang Dhar said, the damage caused to the Myntdu Leshka Dam on the 22nd February this year was due to unprecedented rainfall and sudden rise of water. To a question asked by Jemino Mawthoh of the United Democratic Party, Mr. Dhar said the damage to the dam was minor and has since been repaired.

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