SHILLONG: Chief Minister, Dr Mukul M Sangma on Wednesday inaugurated the Mawkhar Multi Facility Utility Centre at Mawkhar and said that Mawkhar being located at a strategic point, the asset will be of use to the adjoining areas as well.
He also said that the value of the asset that amounted to only Rs 1 crore 68 lakhs surpassed the quantum of investment that has been put into the Multi Facility Centre and urged the residents of the locality especially the youth to use the centre for meaningful and productive purposes.
He also stated that the centre can be used to have access to G2C (Government to Citizen) and B2C (Business to Consumers) services.
Addressing a gathering of people at the inauguration of Multi Facility Utility Center, the CM said, “It is a rare occasion in the history of Meghalaya to have the same CM laying the foundation stone (of the Center) in 2014 and to inaugurate it in the year 2017.”
Stating that political stability is of much importance for development, he said, “The process is rare and we have come a long way.”
Asserting that developmental growth was dislocated due to Partition, he said, “The inherent strength is dislocated. It is time we revisit out strength and potentialities.”
Commenting on the need to change mindset of the pessimist, Sangma said, “We have to change the mindset. Being pessimistic will stop people from dreaming.”
Singing a few lines from the song, “Imagine” by late Beatles singer John Lennon, he said, “We dream on behalf of the people we don’t dream alone.”
Exhorting the people to make everyone know about the vibrant life of the North East, he said, “Many people are yet to understand our vibrant culture.”
The CM lamented that the youth are getting into the bad habits of drug addiction etc., which posed a challenge to the state and underlined the need for keeping the youth engaged.
Highlighting the importance of the center which will keep the youth engage in various developments, Sangma expressed concern that the vulnerability of the youth to vices posed a challenge.
“There are temptations. It is an era of technology. It is a challenging future as youth are becoming more vulnerable,” he said.
Again, speaking on the North East International border which are termed as porous, Sangma said, “It is time we revisit on how we manage international border.”
WHD Syngkon, headman of Mawkhar which he called, “the brain of Khasi Hills”, heaped praises on Sangma and termed him a dynamic leader of the state. Syngkon who is a Congressman said, “We are thankful for the guidance of the Chief Minister.”
Meanwhile, Ronnie Lyngdoh took a jibe at critics of the state government stating that detractors do not want to see, hear or listen to the visible developmental works on the ground.
Referring to the creation of the number of police stations, blocks, civil-subdivision, he said, “Our detractors say that there is nothing visible on the ground.” Stating that development is for all, he said, “Congress stands for inclusiveness and this is what our CM stands for.”
The MLA from Mawkhar, Roshan Warjri expressed gratitude to the CM for his magnanimity for the Rs 1.68 crore Multi Facility Utility center cum community hall constructed at Mawkhar.
`Look beyond congested in Shillong’
Pointing to the congestion on the road in Mawkhar, the CM said, “Look at spreading out of congested Shillong as it is too congested now. Go and construct houses in the outskirts.”
“To look beyond the congested city, that is why the state government is establishing institutions outside the state capital. That is why we will have the College of Science and Commerce at Mawphlang,” he said.
Sangma indicated that the alignment for Western Shillong by-pass has been finalized to reduce the traffic congestion on the city roads. It will start from Umiam road and pass through Mawlyndep and Mawmih.