From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: The people of Kyrshai, West Khasi Hills received a Christmas gift when an important foot-bridge connecting 27 villages was inaugurated.
The foot bridge was inaugurated by legislator of Nongstoin Hopingstone Lyngdoh, in the presence of MDC Rambrai K P Pangniang, Block Development Officer (BDO) Nongstoin C&RD Block D M Suja and headmen from villages of the area.
During the inauguration, Hopingstone lauded the effort of the Pangniang for completing the construction of the bridge.
He said that Pangniang witnessed the problems of the people there and was determined to complete the construction of the bridge. He informed that the bridge had been incomplete for 25 years. Highlighting a joint effort of every villager, Lyngdoh said that he expected the people’s co-operation of in the maintaining the foot-bridge.
Dispelling wrong notions that could have emerged in the event of inaugurating the bridge, Hopingstone made it very clear that this inauguration was not an election campaign but that the HSPDP were always for the border people.
Local MDC K P Pangniang in his speech said that his foremost goal post his victory at the MDC was to complete the construction of the bridge.
He also said that the Garo people of the area had also demanded for their exclusion from Assam.
He informed that Hopingstone fought for the rights of the Garo people and assured that he too would follow in his footsteps and endeavour to do the same.
He added that the water problems were also almost solved as the pipes have already been laid and that the water supply would soon follow suit.
Regarding the electricity problems he said that the work was underway and that they would soon have lights in their homes regularly.
He also requested the Garo people of the area to register their land with the KHADC so that it would strengthen their claim to stay with Meghalaya.
Block Development Officer, D M Suja said that it was indeed a Christmas gift for the people of the area.
She said that the bridge was an important one as it connected 27 villages between Ukiam and Kyrsahi villages.
Suja however warned the people of the area to maintain the bridge and said that it was a foot-bridge and that no two wheelers should attempt to ply across.
She also urged the residents of the village to implement the centrally sponsored schemes to reap benefits.
It may be informed that the bridge construction cost Rs 22 lakh and the funds for the same were used from the schemes provided for in the MLA LAD and the funds allocated to the MDC.