SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has come down heavily on the Centre for failing to understand the mandate of the Constitution, which provides equal opportunity for all states to grow and catch up with the rest.
“In the past successive governments at the Centre had accorded special attention for the growth and development of the Northeastern region,” he said.
The Chief Minister said this after inaugurating a newly constructed suspension bridge over Dilni River connecting Banduraja and nearby villages with Betasing C&RD block headquarters in South West Garo Hills on Saturday.
“However, the present Government has not accorded the status of Special Category States to the North East, he said, adding “today the State is getting its share from the Centre based on the tax we pay and that the Centre is not doing any favour to the State.”
“There is a need to look at the disparities and create equal opportunities for the people of the region to grow and catch up with the rest of the country” he added.
Dedicating the bridge to the people of the area in the presence of Chairperson, Meghalaya Resources & Employment Generation Council, Dikkanchi D. Shira, local MDC, Nripendro Koch, district officials, local leaders and the villagers, the Chief Minister congratulated the people and the officials of the department on the completion of the bridge.
The construction of this bridge under Special Infrastructure Development Fund (SIDF) 2012-13 by Border Area Development, has fulfilled the long cherished dream of the people of around seven villages across the river, including Banduraja and Arenggre, who had to undergo a lot of hardship being cut off from all activity during monsoon.
The Chief Minister placed on record his gratitude to the then Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, now the President of India, for allocating Special Finance Minister’s Package of Rs 60 crore to support such border area development programmes across the State.
