CM lays base for eco-tourism resort in EGH

Williamnagar: The Chief Minister has laid the foundation stone for construction of Eco-Tourism Camp in the village of Nengmandalgre on the southern bank of Simsang River near Williamnagar in the presence of local MLA and Minister for School Education and Literacy Deborah C. Marak on Friday evening.
He also inaugurated the newly constructed building of Kids’ Flower Lower Primary School at Lower Nengmandalgre, which was constructed under Chief Minister’s Special Rural Development Fund.
In his address the chief minister said that when Nengmandalgre was included for the eco-tourism project many were sceptic as nobody thought it would be possible to get tourists visit the place due to obvious reasons – militancy.
“However, there is a need for optimism even in the face of negativity and I hope that the eco-camp would be like a seed of prosperity and opportunity for future generations of the region,” Sangma added.
He also informed that out of 12 such eco-resorts sanctioned under tourism department as many as nine have been earmarked for East Garo Hills alone.
Stating that every part of the state has its own exclusive natural beauty, the chief minister stressed the need to build on this exclusivity and market them aggressively to attract tourists and create opportunities of livelihood for the local people in their own backyard.
Inaugurating the school building, Sangma said that there is a lot of demand for private schools and also stressed the need to have a healthy competition among government and private schools in a healthy environment. 
He called for opening of more private schools and informed that there is government assistance upto certain amount to such non- government schools.
Minister for School Education & Literacy, Deborah Marak in her brief address asserted that no other sector can uplift the economic condition of the people better than tourism which is the fastest growing industry in the world. As such she urged upon the people of Nengmandalgre to preserve the rich flora and fauna and water bodies of their village for promoting eco-tourism in the region.
Later, the Chief Minister along with other dignitaries distributed solar lamps to school students as part of the government’s initiative to promote non-conventional energy under Meghalaya New & Renewable Energy Development Agency.
Earlier, he also visited the fish sanctuary in Chibok river, located in the village, which is renowned for abundance of mahseer.