By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Leader of Opposition Conrad K Sangma has expressed concern over the delay in the completion of the Khyndailad Beautification Project.
“The implementation of the project is going very slow. The progress is hardly 10 to 15 percent complete,” Sangma said during the Question Hour in the Assembly on Friday.
According to the Leader of Opposition, this delay is sending a wrong message to the people who come from outside.
“The Government should take all possible efforts to see that the project is completed as soon as possible,” he said.
In reply, PWD Minister said that there are various factors which have led to this delay.
He said that they have been able to work only during the night hours especially during the festive season like Puja and Christmas last year which contributed to this delay.
According to Lyngdoh, the other main reason is because they took some time to remove the utilities of the PHE, Shillong Municipal Board and MeECL.
Interestingly, while refuting the assessment of Leader of Opposition that the progress of work is only 10 to 15 percent, he said that the project has in fact completed more than 20 percent.
The PWD Minister later corrected himself that the project has completed around 55 percent.
“It was a slip of tongue for mentioning that the work completed about 20 percent,” he said.
Meanwhile, PWD Minister said that the latest deadline to complete the project is July 2013.
Opp concerned over atrocities on villagers
Leader of Opposition, Conrad K Sangma has expressed serious concern over the reported mishandling and torture by the armed forces against innocent people during insurgency operations in Garo Hills.
“It is a fact that there are many cases where armed forces were involved in such incidents. Personally, I am aware about a case where a woman had a miscarriage after she was pushed during the counter insurgency operations,” Sangma during the Question Hour in the Assembly on Friday.
While appreciating the efforts of the police for going all out against the militant group, he however urged the Government to take steps to see such cases of mishandling being minimized.
“The armed forces would lose the support of the common masses if they continue to mishandle and torture the innocent people,” Sangma said while pointing out that the villagers are always an important source in providing vital informations on the movement of the militant outfit.
In reply, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said that the Government needs to be appreciated for going on with these operations to neutralize the activities of the various militants groups operating Garo Hills.
“The police personnel and other armed forces also need to be applauded for their untiring effort to eliminate the militancy problem from the State,” he said.