On the second day of the Meghalaya Assembly, Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira said that the tourism sector has suffered losses of nearly 100 percent.The Tourism Minister said the number of tourists visiting Meghalaya had fallen sharply due to the dispute. Road blockages and the situation involving vehicles have directly affected hotels, homestays, and local businesses dependent on tourism.
Although issue had been resolved following discussions between the chief ministers of the two states. Therefore, there is now no need for any blockade or restriction on vehicle movement.
He further stated that the Meghalaya government will compensate owners of Assam vehicles that were damaged during the dispute. He also stressed the need to restore normal movement of vehicles between the two states.
According to the minister, Assam taxi drivers and other vehicle operators should be able to travel to and from Meghalaya as before, while Meghalaya vehicles should likewise be allowed to move freely in Assam. He said that since a solution has already been reached through discussions between the top leadership of both states, any further shutdown or blockade could worsen the situation.
The minister appealed to people to remain calm and act responsibly, emphasizing that the long-term consequences of any action should be considered before taking it.
The government’s focus is now on restoring normalcy, rebuilding tourists’ confidence, and ensuring uninterrupted movement of vehicles between Assam and Meghalaya.