Govt earmarks Rs 10 crore each for new districts
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government has already started the ground work for the formation of four new districts in the State which were announced last month.
“We have earmarked Rs 10 crore each for the four new districts which the Government had recently announced. Initially, the Government would establish only the key departments in the four districts,” Chief Secretary WMS Pariat said recently.
In the first phase, the offices of Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police will be set up in all the four new districts, Pariat said, while adding that the Government would also be appointing the new deputy commissioners and the superintendents of police from the state pool.
“This means that there will be promotion of senior officers in the State to the posts of deputy commissioners and superintendents of police and heads of the major departments in the new districts,” the Chief Secretary said.
He also informed that they would also subsequently set up other core departments like community and rural development, agriculture and horticulture, etc.
Meanwhile, Pariat said that in due course of time, the government will also be able to avail Central funds which would help in addressing the additional expenditure to be incurred in all the new four districts.
There are already seven districts in the State and with the formation of four more districts, the number of districts would go up to eleven.
Though the State Government, while announcing the new districts, observed that administration will be brought closer to the people by the formation of more districts, critics however feel that the government should have improved the facilities in the existing districts instead of announcing new districts.
It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma had, last month, announced three new districts in the State — Khliehriat in Jaintia Hills, Resbuelpara in East Garo Hills and Ampati in West Garo Hills. However there was a hue and cry over the government’s neglect of West Khasi Hills districts, prompting the Chief Minister to announce another new district — Mawkyrwat in West Khasi Hills.
Govt earmarks Rs 10 crore each for new districts