The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), North Khasi Hills District, has reiterated its opposition to the proposed Food Court at Umling, refusing to soften its stand despite an appeal by the Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner to allow the project to proceed.
The meeting was convened by Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Dr. Abhishek Saini after KSU members recently halted construction work at the site. Also present were Superintendent of Police Giri Prasad, Umling C&RD Block Development Officer Erick Kevin Dkhar, Tourism Department official Banshynshar Nongkynrieh, and KSU North Khasi Hills District leaders led by President Ferdynald Kharkamni and General Secretary James Hitler Mawphniang.
Following the meeting, the KSU said its position remains unchanged. The organisation reiterated that it would continue opposing the construction of the Food Court at Umling and urged the state government to either fully operationalise the Felicitation Centre as originally intended or convert the facility into a checkpoint to monitor the movement of people entering the state from outside Meghalaya.
Speaking to reporters, KSU-NKHD President Ferdynald Kharkamni said the Deputy Commissioner had expressed his desire for the project to continue without further obstruction or delays.
According to the KSU, the state government inaugurated the Felicitation Centre in 2020 with the objective of creating a facility to monitor the entry of visitors into Meghalaya, with multiple government departments operating from the premises. While the union said it supported the project’s original purpose, it strongly opposed the government’s decision to convert the facility into a Food Court.
Kharkamni emphasised that the KSU is not opposed to development but is seeking to preserve the original objective of the project. He argued that if the Felicitation Centre is fully operationalised and used as an entry checkpoint, it would strengthen monitoring of people entering the state while also helping curb the smuggling of drugs and other illegal substances into Meghalaya.
He further asserted that the KSU would continue to stand firm against the government’s plan and urged the state government to reconsider its decision on the proposed Food Court project.
