State to approach finance panel for new admin units

SHILLONG: The state government will approach the Finance Commission for funding the creation of new administrative units, said Home Minister James Sangma in the Assembly on Monday.
The Minister was replying to the question by UDP MLA Nujorki Sungoh on upgrading Laskein block in West Jaintia Hills to a civil sub-division. He said the matter is being examined.
The government, which was receiving a stream of demands for creating new administrative units after Ranikor was upgraded to civil sub-division before the by-poll last month, had cited financial constraint as the reason for not being heedful of the demands.
Replying to a supplementary query, Sangma said the government constituted District Task Force to examine the possibility of creation of blocks, civil-sub divisions and districts.
Reiterating the financial weakness of the state exchequer, the minister pleaded for the member’s patience and said, “We will continue to take the matter to the Finance Commission.”
To another supplementary query, he said there were 12 suggestions from various quarters for creation of administrative units, blocks and districts.
Stating that Laskein is the oldest block, Sungoh said other blocks were upgraded while Laskein was ignored. He wanted to know why the demand, raised in 1993, was ignored for so long. Sangma replied that the government in the past did not take the matter seriously but “the present government will examine the matter”.