SHILLONG: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) is engaged in a bitter tussle with Mawthadraishan MLA HB Nongsiej over the location of a proposed residential school under the Mawthadraishan Community and Rural Development Office.
While the legislator wants the proposed school to come up at Mawlangren village, the HYC is firm in its demand that the school be constructed in Lawbyrtun village which, interestingly, is also the site recommended by the State Government for one of the proposed 20 residential schools slated to be set up in C&RD blocks.
The state government has sanctioned Rs 2.44 crore each for construction of the residential schools in the 20 C&RD blocks.
According to reports, the local MLA is trying hard to ensure that Mawlangren gets the residential school and he had even submitted a letter to Deputy Chief Minister in-charge, Education, RC Laloo on September 9 last in this regard in which he had alleged that the site of the proposed school was changed from Mawlangren (Umjei) village to Lawbyrtun under some compulsion.
“Mawlangren (Umjei) was the most suitable site since it is centrally located and road connectivity, electricity and drinking water supply
already exists there. I suspect that somebody has compelled the concerned department to change the site from Mawlangren to Lawbyrtun,” Nongsiej had said calling for a re-inspection for the suitable location at Lawbyrtun, Wahliewlong, Nongshillong-Phamblang and Mawlangren (Umjei) villages, if doubt persists over the selection of site.
Meanwhile, the HYC on Friday slammed the Mawthadraishan MLA for allegedly rejecting Lawbyrtun’s “right to host the school” on grounds that the village does not has access to proper roads, electricity and drinking water facilities.
“If he as a representative of the constituency can’t provide basic infrastructure like roads then why did he become our MLA,” president of the HYC Mawthadraishan circle, Markus R Myrthong asked.
Lawbyrtun Rangbah Shnong, Phailander L Nonglait said the village has donated 20 acres of land for the proposed school.
“Education department and PWD (Building) officials have already inspected the proposed site,” Nonglait told reporters.