SHILLONG: Border Area Development Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday informed that the government has initiated the process of updating and notifying new border villages in the State.
Tynsong informed that data relating to population, household numbers and other amenities available in each of the proposed new border villages are being compiled.
“The last notified list of border villages was updated on June 3, 1992,” he said during Question Hour in the Assembly on Wednesday.
While replying to a supplementary question from Opposition leader Dr. Donkupar Roy, Tynsong said that the notified list was expected to be completed within June.
Govt examining proposal for new C&RD Blocks
Tynsong informed the House that the government was examining the proposals for creation of new Community and Rural Development Blocks in the State.
Mentioning the indicative criteria for creation of new C&RD Blocks, Tynsong said the population should not be less than 20,000, the block headquarter should be centrally located and connected with good road communications. He also informed that the proposed area should have existing infrastructure like markets, schools, water supply, health facilities, bank and post offices and availability of land free of cost for the purpose of establishing the Block headquarters.
Tynsong informed that the department has directed all the deputy commissioners to conduct detailed survey to carry out the proposed re-organisation of the C&RD Blocks and submit the report to the department.
“The main objective for this reorganization exercise is to address the disparity among the existing 39 C&RD Blocks in the State,” the Minister informed.
Citing an example, Tynsong said that the Mylliem C&RD Block has a total population of 4.5 lakh while there are other C&RD Blocks with population between 35000 and 36000.
“These are loopholes which we need to rectify,” he said.
Replying to a supplementary question of Opposition leader Dr. Donkupar Roy, Tynsong said the Government
has not fixed the numbers of new C&RD Blocks to be created.
“We would take a decision only after studying the reports submitted by the respective deputy commissioners,” the Community and Rural Development Minister said.
Participating in the discussion, Chokpot MLA Clifford R Marak observed that the Government is emphasizing availability of land free of cost since it does not have the necessary funds to pay the land compensation.
Enhancement of student scholarship
Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Education, Prof. R.C. Laloo informed that the department has submitted the proposal for enhancement of scholarships to students to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
He informed that the proposal was submitted on August 26, 2013.