Amphitheatre inauguration has nothing to do with 2018 elections, assures Ronnie

SHILLONG: Mawlai constituency was again abuzz with activity on Friday after the State’s first Open Air Amphitheatre was officially inaugurated by the Minister incharge Arts and Culture, R V Lyngdoh, at the Tribal Research Institute Campus, Mawlai Nongkwar.
A day after the State Government dedicated the Mawlai C&RD Block at Mawlai Mawtawar, where the school students, cultural dancers and singers attended the function.
Speaking in the occasion, Lyngdoh termed the day as ‘another red-letter day for Mawlai’ and took the opportunity to clear the perception that the government was inaugurating it before the elections, he said “The Amphitheatre was sanctioned in the year July 2013, tender was allotted in January 2014 and it was completed in the year February 2017. It took time to complete,” he said.
He informed that the Amphitheatre at Shillong was constructed by the Meghalaya Government Construction Corporation (MGCC) Limited from January 2015 and completed on February 2017 at a total cost of Rs. 1.96 crores and that the entire project was completed  within the estimated amount.
Referring to the significance of the amphitheater, Lyngdoh said, “Facilities were lacking in the State to showcase talent. The people should make use of this facility and allow others to use the facility to showcase their talent.” He informed that Amphitheaters will also be constructed at Jowai and Tura sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 5.88 crores.
Forces that discriminate minorities
Stressing on the need to preserve the cultural heritage of Meghalaya through music, traditional attires, the Minister urged the students present to work hard by citing the example of Eugeneson Lyngdoh, who became the highest paid football player in the Indian League.
“We are only a minority in a land surrounded by billions of people. We should work hard as there are forces in the country who will try to take away our privileges and again these are forces that will discriminate the minorities,” he said.
He added that due to the prevailing ‘forces’, the minorities will soon be left with no reservation and no quota.