Shillong, Dec 13: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has said the state government is re-examining the Meghalaya Residents, Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill (MRSSAB), 2020, after it was returned by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Conrad told reporters on Wednesday that MRSSAB is an alternative to the ILP which the government had pushed and passed in the Assembly and the state did not get a concurrence from the Governor and it was sent to Delhi to the President for concurrence. ‘Hence the Government of India then had written back to Government of Meghalaya saying that you should revisit it because certain sections were not in line with some constitutional provisions and re-examine on how you would rediscuss it.”
“Based on that communication we are now re-examining and of course we are speaking to different stakeholders, we are speaking to our legal team and advocate general we are seeing how we could move on this. It is complicated because central laws, state laws which we need to look into while we decide on all these aspects but as I said the process is continuous and we are going to following it up,” he added.
Supply of petroleum products as usual
Conrad asserted that bail to arrested members of the North East Petroleum Mazdoor Union (NEPMU) can be granted by the court and not by the government.
The arrest was following the pilferage of petroleum products.
According to the CM, there is no immediate problem with the supply of petroleum products in Meghalaya and that the public need not panic.
Conrad was reacting to the demand of the NEPMU to release its members from jail, failing which they will halt the transportation of any petroleum products to Meghalaya starting from Tuesday.
“We have discussed with everybody and the matter is in court. They are requesting for bail but bail is going to be granted only by the Court and not by the government so that process is on”, he said.
New police stations
Conrad said the government is examining the proposal for creation of new police stations but the target is to strengthen the efficiency of the existing police stations.
“We are examining as there are lots of demands for police stations all over the state but my opinion is that we should strengthen and make the current structure and existing police station and existing set ups to its hundred percent efficiency and then examining about going further.”
Shillong-Dawki road project
The work for construction of the Shillong-Dawki road project will soon commence.
Conrad said recently the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) have realloted the work for the two-three packages to new contractors.
“We had a review meeting along with the new contractors just about 10-15 days back and the idea was just to see their preparation and to give heads up that this is a working season and hence they should do all that they can to push as much work as possible in this next 6 months time,” he said.
