SHILLONG: When Chief Minister Mukul Sangma is hoping to repeat the 2013 win in 2018 by resorting to inauguration of blocks and civil sub-divisions, the four districts formed in 2012 prior to the Assembly polls are still working like civil sub-divisions without having enough infrastructure in place.
An official source on Wednesday admitted that nothing much has changed by the creation of the four new districts except incurring additional expenditure.
The creation of the four districts was a political decision of the Congress-led MUA-II Government of the polls, without however, considering the need to develop infrastructure.
Sources said the older among the districts like South Garo Hills and Ri Bhoi are yet to be fully developed even after the completion of 25 years of their formation recently.
After five years of the formation of the four districts – North Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills, East Jaintia Hills and South West Khasi Hills – other than appointing deputy commissioners and SPs and a few officials, the offices of many relevant departments are yet to be fully established.
The infrastructure development needs funds and the government is not in a position to carry out these initiatives due to financial crunch.
Critics of the government fear that the same thing may happen to the civil sub-divisions and community and rural development blocks which are being inaugurated.
This year, the government had also created several police stations.
There is a fear that the next government will have to bear the financial burden for the additional initiatives of the government.
Moreover, the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations may also put the government in trouble due to financial crunch.
NPP leader James Sangma said the chief minister’s inauguration spree is irresponsible and he should focus on fulfilling of old promises.
Citing the examples of South Garo Hills (Baghmara), James said conditions there are pathetic despite the District being so old.
“See what has happened to the idea of Shillong and Tura Medical Colleges,” he said.
He also said the inauguration of blocks and civil sub-divisions is a mere political stunt to divert the attention of people from all his failures.
On the other hand, UDP MLA Jemino Mawthoh said the objective of creating blocks and sub-divisions is to bring people closer to the administration.
“But my apprehension is whether the State has enough money in its coffers to set up the infrastructures in these newly created assets,” Mawthoh said.
He also said that the important thing about the blocks is its personnel who will man the blocks and how will it function and help people.
BJP Meghalaya Spokesperson Basu Chakraborty also said that the Congress system of working is misguiding people and they are doing the same with the inauguration of blocks and sub-divisions.
“All central government schemes for the poor are being suppressed by the Congress,” he alleged.
He also said that the Congress will lose badly and they will not come back to power in the country at least for the next three terms.
