Govt criticised for delay over new Assembly

SHILLONG: Nongkrem MLA Ardent Basaiawmoit has lambasted the state government over its inability to construct the new Assembly building.Basaiawmoit, while participating in the debate on the Governor’s address, expressed his disaffection over the fact that even after 16 years, the state does not have a permanent Assembly building.The permanent Assembly building at Khyndailad was destroyed in a blaze in 2001.
“The government is running in a transitory manner with many offices in rural areas operating from rented accommodation and temporary buildings,” he said.The MLA also accused the government of failing miserably to sort out the conflict of interests between the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) and itself. Basaiawmoit expressed his discontentment over the overlaps between the functions of the ADCs and the state government and which continue to remain ambivalent even after 45 years of statehood. He said as per the Sixth Schedule, the state government does not have any authority over tribal areas.
Calling for a thorough debate on the matter, he added that the public should not be misled over the issue and the government must take measures to ensure that the functioning of the ADCs do not come into any conflict with the state government.