From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: With a view to finding a solution to make Jowai Municipal Board functional, Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh held a meeting with local heads at Jowai Circuit house on Wednesday.
Lyngdoh accompanied by the Director of Urban Affairs BK Panda and Officer on Special Duty, T Lyngwa in the presence of the Deputy Commissioner, T Dkhar and JHADC Chief Lamdibok Sumer held a meeting on Wednesday morning with all local traditional heads who were in support of the civic polls.
Later in the afternoon she met the anti-municipal poll group under the banner of the Joint Action Committee Against Municipality, Jaintia Hills (JACAM-JH).
The Urban Affairs Minister informed that her motive for holding such meetings with local heads and NGOs is to find a solution to make Jowai Municipal Board functional so that basic civic services are delivered to the people.
The Minister has clearly stated the need to de-politicize the Civic Management in the town by strengthening the machinery for urban civic management.
“We have not talked about the Municipalisation of Jaintia hills District, but discussed ways and means to strengthen the existing Municipal Board in Jowai,” Lyngdoh said.
“We want to ensure development arrives in Jowai through the local body,” she added.
Local heads including various headmen and elders of the village councils have urged the Urban Affairs Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh to go ahead with the nomination of Ward Commissioners to the Jowai Municipal Board.
Various representatives of the village councils also requested Lyngdoh to expedite the process of nomination so as to make Jowai Municipality functional.
The request came during the Minister’s visit to Jowai on Wednesday while she was holding a meeting with local heads who are in favour of municipal elections during the first half and later with those local heads who are opposed to the civic polls.
“The Government should go ahead with the nomination of Ward Commissioners immediately,” Khim-u-sniang village Secretary, MK Siangshai said adding that the government should entrust the nomination to the village council which will be appointed by the Government.
Former MDC and the President of Chutwakhu Social Club, Philemon Lyngdoh expressed that the Government should expedite the municipalization of Jowai town.
“We should not let it remain stagnant. We are eager for elections but we understand that there is a court case going on, so we want nomination of ward commissioners by the dorbar shnong not through political appointment in order to avoid confusion and dissatisfaction,” Lyngdoh said.
Meanwhile, Jowai Civic Awareness Committee Secretary, Kerdose Kyndait, who also shared his views and suggestion, urged the Minister either to make Jowai Municipal Board functional or do away with it.
“We are tired of the issue and we have had several meetings with the District Administration and the government on this matter issue but we find that the government has failed to respond positively,” he added.
The Minister informed that she would take time to look into all perspectives before taking any decision to make Jowai Municipal Board functional.
The Minister informed that she would again visit Jowai tentatively on February 15 to take a final decision on the functioning of the Jowai Municipal Board. She also suggested that a Committee be constituted which would comprise representatives from the opposition group and those in favour of the Municipal Board so that together they can thrash out differences.
Meanwhile, the JACAM-JH Chairman, MH Dkhar, informed that Municipality cannot be brought to an Autonomous area referring to Article 243, Part IX A of the Constitution of India which says that municipalities cannot be constituted in scheduled areas.
He also informed that the JACAM-JH has opposed the civics poll due to non-available of the Municipality Act in Meghalaya.
“The Municipality Act which is to be enforced in the State is a borrowed Act from Assam which does not suit the tribal people residing in these areas,” Dkhar said.