SHILLONG, Dec 5 � In a deviation from its earlier consideration, the Government-constituted Committee on Influx has finally decided to recommend to the Meghalaya Government to immediately implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to control influx.
The Committee, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Lanong and comprising government officials and NGO members, decided that the recommendation to implement ILP has been zeroed upon considering the grave influx situation in the State.
�There has been a consensus that we would recommend to the Government that ILP must be implemented in the State,� Lanong said addressing the media.
The issue of Garo Hills being outside the purview of the ILP was discussed threadbare and the Committee decided that the Government must ensure (if needed, through legislations) that ILP covers the entire State and should not be implemented partially.
Earlier, the Committee thought of presenting two options before the Government, either to implement the ILP or the three-tier identification system. In the three-tier identification card system, permanent residents of the State would be given a green card. Semi-permanent residents like Central Government employees, businessmen and contractors would be presented with a blue colour card, issued by appropriate authorities.
And the temporary red colour card would be issued to tourists, labourers, etc. This card would be issued at the inter-State entry points and Meghalaya Houses. The permanent card would be issued after identification by the Dorbar (traditional bodies) and confirmation from the Deputy Commissioners.
But, in its final meeting the Committee, mainly due to pressure from the NGOs, decided to do away with the three-tier identification card system for the time being and focus solely on implementing the ILP.
The committee would submit the recommendations to the Government in a day or two, Lanong said.
