Chief Minister Mukul Sangma assures removal of Meghalaya's developmental disparities

Damalgre (Meghalaya) [India], Jan.21 (ANI): Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has said that all the six new community and rural development (C&RD) blocks will be fully functional from April 1. He made the announcement while laying the foundation stone for Damalgre C&RD block at Rerapara in South West Garo Hills, the construction of which is underway. The new block will cover 149 villages, which were earlier part of Betasing, Selsella and Rongram blocks. "We are committed to ensure that the whole developmental gaps and disparities are taken care off. Our agenda is to ensure not just sustainable development but a truly inclusive development, so that we are able to create an enabling environment for the citizen's well-being", the chief minister said. He said that it was an ambitious plan of the government to ensure that every citizen of the state is part of the development process. "We want to create a sense of hope and joy for everybody as we carry forward our commitment to create new developmental avenues in every nook and conner of the state", he said. He remarked that it was a challenging task for the government in absence of industrialization to generate revenue but the government with a long drawn strategy which is based on due diligence has been able to ensure comprehensive approach to reach the unreached. He took the opportunity to enlighten the people on the occasion that it was each ones responsibility to partner with the government for accelerated growth rather than creating difference, which can pose deterrence and hamper development activities. "Politicians and people in general should be aware of an elected parties manifesto, so that they can trail whether the promises made were fulfilled or not", he said, while detailing on commitments of his government for creation of new sub-divisions, blocks, medical, engineering college and other welfare programmes. On delay in setting up of medical college at Tura, the foundation for which was laid at Balalgre in 2013, he said that since the area falls beyond 10 km from Tura Civil Hospital, it has posed hurdle and the government is looking for a new area, which would be notified soon. He said that the central government had approved funds for the medical college at Tura and Shillong during the tenure of Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad, however the new guidelines have created slight difficulty. He said that since the government has acquired land at Balalgre and Jewilgre, near Damalgre, the land would be used for setting up of Captain Williamson Sangma Technical University and College of Architecture and Urban Planning, which would be one of the finest colleges of the Northeast. He also asked the public to come forward and provide land to the government, so that development and welfare activities could be taken up. He also sought peoples co-operation, so that the vision of the government to create development programme could be fulfilled. He unveiled the plaque marking the foundation stone laying of the new block in presence of C&RD Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, Environment Minister Clement Marak, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Zenith Sangma, North Tura MLA Noverfield R. Marak, Bajengdoba MLA Brigady Marak, Tikrikilla MLA Limison Sangma and a host of other dignitaries. In last year's budget session, Mukul had announced creation of four new development blocks - Mawlai in East Khasi Hills, Bhoirymbong in Ri-Bhoi, Dendema in West Garo Hills and Damalgre in South West Garo Hills. The government had subsequently decided creation for two additional development blocks - Bajengdoba in North Garo Hills and Sohiong in East Khasi Hills. With the creation of six new blocks, Meghalaya will have 45 blocks. Damalgre becomes the 40th block of the state. Dhar said that the new block would bring administration closer to the people and open new vistas for growth. Similar views were echoed by sport and youth affairs minister Zenith Sangma, who is also the local MLA of the area. (ANI)