From CK Nayak
New Delhi: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, who met UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi here, has sought a massive special package for Meghalaya for its various mega projects starting from the New Shillong Township to global-level institutes for music and sports and also appraised her about the State’s plans and progress.
Dr Sangma will also meet the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh soon in this regard.
Talking to The Shillong Times after his meeting with the Congress president, Dr Sangma said that such mega projects cannot be funded under the regular annual plans. “Given the order of investment required, these projects cannot be funded under our regular annual plan allocations,” he said.
Dr Sangma requested Gandhi to consider granting special package covering several projects over and above the usual plan allocation.
Meghalaya does not have much internal resources for the upcoming mega projects and needs Centre’s help, he said.
The Chief Minister also sought funding for a new assembly structure in Shillong.
“Meghalaya had lost its Assembly building, a heritage site, to a fire over a decade ago and since then we have been making serious endeavour to construct a new building for which land has been identified,” he said.
The new Assembly complex will have provisions for accommodations for the elected representatives and staff, he said. Given the paucity of land and resultant congestion, the State had taken up a ‘New Shillong Township’ project, he said.
For the first time the Chief Minister also sought help from the Centre for integrated housing projects for its employees in each district. These large projects will help thousands of Government employees and their families located in different districts of the State, he said.
Dr Sangma also requested Gandhi to consider putting up two institutes of international standards – one for music and the other for sports – in Shillong.
Young talents from different parts of the State have shown their excellence in music and sports like football which should be encouraged, he said.
“Shillong is not only a well known hill station but also and traditional centre of excellence in education, art, music and sports,” Dr Sangma added.
The details of the funds will be finalized very soon since the data is updated, he informed.
Expressing his satisfaction with the plan size finalized for the current fiscal, the Chief Minister said that all line Ministries have also assured of providing subsequent support to the State.
“I have been asked to immediately prepare a proposal on the major projects which the State intends to take up. The proposal is expected to be submitted within the next few days,” Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister also informed that a major component of this proposal will be the ‘dream project’ of the State which is the ‘Integrated Drinking Water and Irrigation Project for Tura and Ganol Basin’.
“The project aims at harnessing the mighty Ganol river in Garo Hills in terms of proper water harvesting to improve its hydrology by way of involving the community,” Dr Sangma said.
“This will also create vistas for eco tourism which will eventually become revenue assets of the community. We will facilitate irrigation for the Ganol basin and through this, drinking water for Tura and adjoining areas of the basin will be ensured,” the Chief Minister said.