SHILLONG: Umsning MDC Donkupar Sumer, who is contesting the assembly elections on UDP ticket, has said Chief Minister Mukul Sangma should create a civil sub division in Khanapara in Ri Bhoi if his government cannot resolve the long-pending boundary dispute with Assam.
Speaking to media persons on Monday, Sumer said a sub-divisional office in Khanapara would stop the Assam government from encroaching on the state’s territory.
“If we come to power, we will definitely work on this line as Assam will not be able to encroach on our land once government offices are there and people from the area will no longer have to come to Nongpoh for official works,” he said as he alleged that Sangma was creating civil sub-divisions one after the other for the convenience of a few MLAs.
Stating that he follows in the footsteps of former chief minister EK Mawlong, Sumer said MLA Celestine Lyngdoh failed to air the grievances of farmers in the district throughout his full tenure of five years.
Attacking the MLA over delay in starting the proposed zoo in Ri Bhoi, Sumer said the MLA has failed to follow up on the project though it could have provided employment to the local people.
“Even in the 6th Battalion headquarters and the district jail, most of the people who have been employed are not from our constituency,” he told reporters.
Talking about other delayed projects, Sumer said the Central Agriculture University is yet to see the light of day and it will be his top priority to see that the university comes up at the earliest and benefit local farmers. Sumer, while explaining the plight of farmers in the district, said the sub-registrar office is charging around Rs 6,000 to register one hectare of land, “which is too expensive”.
“Banks often ask farmers to register their land when they want to seek loan but they are paying too much for registering their land and we will take measures in this regard,” he added.
Corruption aplenty
Sumer alleged that beneficiaries of most of the MLA schemes are Mahila Congress and other party workers and family members of Congress leaders.
The MDC also felt that the system of personal interviews for grades III and IV recruitment in the District Selection Committee leads to corruption and the system should be done away with. With the Congress losing steam in Meghalaya, the alternative before voters in Meghalaya is the regional force “that understands people’s problems”.
“While the MLAs are fed up with the style and functioning of the chief minister, people in Umsning are fed up with the style and functioning of the present MLA,” he said.
Responding to a query, Sumer said as different places in the state like Shillong, Tura, Jowai and Sohra have government colleges, Ri Bhoi too should have a similar institution that will benefit poor students.
“We will see that a polytechnic college is set up here,” he said.
Sumer said the district has huge potential in sericulture farming and it would be appropriate to set up a textile industry in the district.
