Shillong: The Khasi Students’ Union walked away from a Wednesday meeting with the Meghalaya government feeling unsatisfied. Former general secretary Donald V. Thabah voiced concerns that the Tourism Department failed to address key issues regarding the proposed facilitation center in Umling, Ri-Bhoi. The state lacks a cohesive plan. Officials only represented the Tourism Department during the discussion.
The union demanded a facility serving all travelers, including students, laborers, and business commuters, rather than just tourists. Current plans rely on a single tourism counter. Thabah warned this layout will create massive queues for people without online registration access. The union pushed for dedicated space for the Home, Education, and Health departments. Officials refused to comment for other agencies. Thabah noted, "The union was not satisfied with the meeting, as the broader concerns could not be addressed in the absence of officials from the other departments concerned."
Land disputes remain a major sticking point. The government proposed increasing the center size from 1,000 to 4,000 square metres after the KSU complained about an oversized food court eating into usable space. Even with that jump, the union questions if the footprint remains too small. Discussions also touched on a separate facility at Ratacherra, where land acquisition sits at 50 percent completion. The government offered no clear timeline or design details for that location.
The KSU wants these facility talks tied directly to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act. Future meetings must include representatives from every relevant department. For now, the group remains in limbo. The union cannot plan its next move until it consults with leadership currently held in custody.
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