TURA: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma met both district officials and affected villagers from the strife torn border belt with Assam on Tuesday and put forward several remedial measures to bring normalcy back to the region.
The Chief Minister first landed in his home constituency of Ampati in South West Garo Hills District which has witnessed the latest flare up with Assam and held a meeting with the district officials.
Dr Sangma also visited the tense Monabari village along the Assam-Meghalaya border and met the affected villagers. He was greeted with a warm welcome by the villagers who sought his help in diffusing the tension and ensuring security for the inhabitants of the border region.
The Chief Minister assured the villagers that all possible help would be provided to them and also directed the district officials to ensure that essential commodities reach the villages. He also promised to ensure that an anti-dacoity camp, demanded by NGOs from Garo Hills, is permanently set up along the border to dither anti social elements who have been at the forefront fermenting trouble.
The Chief Minister met officials, church leaders, community elders and NGOs and discussed the need to bring about lasting peace to the region.
One of his first steps to get normalcy restored was the relaxation of curfew along the border belt during working hours.
Under directions of the Chief Minister, the Ampati administration has decided to lift curfew from 6 AM till 6 PM along the 5 km border belt with effect from Wednesday.
To boost the security scenario of the region, the Chief Minister also announced that more paramilitary force companies are on their way to Garo Hills to ensure lasting peace.
The Chief Minister also held a separate meeting with the village headmen (Nokma), senior citizens and the Bazaar Committees to get business and trade moving in the Garo Hills.
Dr Sangma suggested a joint meeting of all trading committees in the weekly markets which could send a strong message of unity to everyone.
Later, the Chief Minister arrived at Tura and held similar meeting with government officials and NGOs.
In the meeting, Dr Sangma stressed on the importance of self-sustenance and said the government’s pet project of IBDLP would encourage self-sufficiency of farmers and local entrepreneurs.
Some of the NGOs at the meeting called for regulation of migrant workers, negotiation with militant groups like the GNLA and providing relief to the villagers who have been caught in the turmoil.
The Chief Minister directed the West Garo Hills district administration to ensure villagers receive the basic commodities and security is ensured. He also assured the NGOs of looking into their grievances in regard to the regulation of workers and holding of peace talks with militant outfits.The Ampati meeting was attended by Meghalaya’s new DGP PJP Hanaman, Commissioner and Secretary for Home, Additional DGP YC Modi, Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh and SP R Muthu.
In Tura, Parliamentary Secretary Winnerson D Sangma, North Tura MLA Noverfield R Marak and Tura Municipal Board Chairman Kulert C Momin actively participated in the discussions with the Chief Minister.
Inclement weather delays CM’s chopper
Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma had to wait for more than two hours at the Shillong Airport in Umroi on Tuesday afternoon as his chopper was not allowed to take off due to inclement weather.
Dr Sangma was supposed to take off at around 12.30 pm from the airport for his one-day visit to the trouble-torn areas of Garo Hills. The Chief Minister reached the airport half an hour late as he was preoccupied with the visit of the British High Commissioner Sir James Bevan.
However, on reaching the airport, the officials of the Meteorological department refused to give the green signal for the Chief Minister’s chopper to take off citing poor weather condition.
The chopper finally took off at around 3.05 pm.