SHILLONG: Meghalaya Home Minister James Sangma said the state government would take up the matter of funding for creation of blocks, administrative units, civil sub-divisions and districts with the Finance Commission.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by UDP MLA, Nujorki Sungoh in the state Assembly on Monday on the status to up-grade Laskein Block in West Jaintia Hills to a civil sub-division. Sangma said the matter was being examined.
Replying to a supplementary query, Sangma said the government constituted the District Task Force to examine the possibility of creation of blocks, civil-sub divisions and districts.
He added that availability of funds was one of the criteria for the creation of civil-sub division and pleaded for the member’s patience and said, “We will continue to take the matter with the Finance Commission.”
Replying to a supplementary query, he said there were 12 demands from various quarters for administrative units, blocks and districts.
Stating that Laskein is the oldest block, Sungoh pointed out that other blocks were upgraded while Laskein was ignored and asked why Laskein block was left untouched even though demand was since 1993.
In response, Sangma said the government in the past did not take the matter seriously and added that the present government would examine the matter.