SHILLONG: Governor Tathagata Roy, in his hour-long speech on the first day of the budget session on Friday, talked about various projects on the anvil and those pending for years and the government’s plans to better various services.
Roy informed the House that the North Eastern Council (NEC) had released Rs 38 crore for various schemes in 2018-19.
Under the North Eastern Special Infrastructure Development Scheme, Rs 175 crore was allocated to six key infrastructure projects followed by Rs 35 crore released from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
The ministry has also sanctioned nine projects under the component special central assistance to tribal sub-scheme at Rs 34 crore, he said and also referred to the Meghalaya Livelihood and Access to Markets Project and the Community Led Landscape Management Project (CLLMP).
“Community led development interventions focused on natural resource management and rural livelihoods are being taken up in about 1,750 villages under these projects,” he said.
CLLMP will be implemented in convergence with MGNREGS to leverage and mobilise village employment councils to invest in natural resource management works.
The National Rural Livelihood Mission is being implemented in 22 C&RD blocks covering 386 villages, Roy informed.
This was the first time that a governor read out his speech sitting.
Roy said the process of setting up facilitation centres at entry and exit points to contain influx was in progress and mentioned that the state government “is committed to completing the remaining fencing on the international border with Bangladesh at a fast pace”.
He added that the state government has notified the Meghalaya State Weighbridges Policy, 2018, whereby all designated weighbridges will function as integrated checkpoints and they will be manned by the personnel from Transport, Mining and Geology, Forest and Environment, Home (Police) departments.
Speaking about the contentious Meghalaya-Assam border, the governor said the disputed pockets along the inter-state border areas are being monitored continuously.
Cyber crime
Roy expressed concern that Meghalaya has also become susceptible to cyber crimes and in view of the rising number of cases, a cyber crime wing has been created under the Administrative Control and Management of CID.
Separation of judiciary
The government has taken steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in seven districts, Roy said and added that construction of court buildings and residential quarters in Jowai, Mawkyrwat, Khliehriat, Resubelpara and Ampati is in progress. The construction in Baghmara will start shortly.
Also, “construction of sub-divisional court buildings and residential quarters in Sohra, Amlarem and Mairang is in good progress and permanent court buildings in Tura and Williamnagar have been inaugurated”.
Helipad & roads
Roy informed the House about the government’s intention to have a helipad in New Shillong Township as well as in other district headquarters.
With regard to flight services, he said the Transport Department has initiated the process for expansion of Umroi Airport following the direction of the High Court. “It is expected that 42/72-seater flights will operate shortly to connect Shillong with other state capitals in the region,” he added.
Also, improvement of six national highways in the state is one of the top priorities of the government. Roy, while mentioning about the Road Transport and Highways Ministry’s push for over 50 projects in Meghalaya, said 36 projects have been sanctioned covering a length of about 75.30 km at a cost of Rs 72 crore under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, an amount of Rs 1450.49 crore has been sanctioned for 338 schemes covering a road length of 1803.64 km in 2018-19.
Power supply
Talking about rural electrification, Roy said 516 villages will be electrified in the first phase of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana and that the Integrated Power Development Scheme is being implemented in urban areas.
The work for Lakroh Small Hydro Project (SHP) (1.5 MW) has been completed and the work for Ganol Hydro Electric Project (HEP) (3×7.5 MW) is in progress and is expected to be commissioned by March 2020, Roy informed.
“The power transmission network in the state is also being augmented and strengthened with the construction of new 220 KV and 132 KV lines and substations under the North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project with funding from the World Bank and the Government of India,” he said.
Under the Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY), an amount of Rs 125 crore had been released to Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited for debt servicing and other operational expenditure while implementation of the scheme Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All is also being carried out.
The Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya) was launched in the state to electrify 52,000 households and work is in progress to achieve the target.
Under the New and Renewable Energy component, he said the eElectrification of 35 remote villages has been completed.
Water supply schemes
The governor said implementation of Greater Shillong Water Supply Project (Phase-III), sanctioned under the JNNURM (now under AMRUT), the Greater Ampati Water Supply Scheme and the Nongstoiñ Urban Water Supply Scheme are in progress.
He added that sanctions have been obtained for implementation of Greater Sohra (Cherrapunjee) Water Supply Scheme and laying of new feeder mains for Tura Phases I and II Water Supply Scheme.
Roy informed that about 45 rural water supply schemes were sanctioned under the State Plan and 26 schemes through the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund and they are being implemented.
Education
The governor highlighted a number of activities taken up by the state government in the education sector.
He informed that the government is setting up two professional colleges, the Shillong Government College of Engineering and the College of Architecture and Urban Planning Tura under the Rashtriya Uchchattar Shiksha Abhiyan.
Three existing government aided degree colleges are being upgraded to Model Degree Colleges while two new Model Degree Colleges are being set up under the same scheme, he said.
“To minimise dropout rate, the government will continue to run the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and midday meal programmes…,” Roy said.
As for residential schools, Roy said the state recently got sanction for setting up of 11 Ekalavya Residential Model Schools across the state — one per district.
The state government will continue to set up residential schools and girls’ hostel in backward areas and the Meghalaya School Improvement Plan will be implemented for self-progress and better performance of students under the Supporting Human Capital Development Programme.
Also, under social welfare programmes, construction of working women’s hostels in Shillong and Tura under Special Plan Assistance has been completed.
Infra building
Roy informed that construction of juvenile home at Mawkasiang in Shillong was completed and that in Tura is currently under construction.
“A juvenile school up to Class X was also proposed during the current year on the premises of the juvenile home at Mawkasiang,” said Roy.
Referring to the General Administrative Department, Roy said construction of a governor’s house in Tura is nearly complete.
Other projects taken up through PWD (Building) are infrastructure projects in Mawkyrwat, Khliehriat, Resubelpara and Ampati and they are nearing completion.
With regard to the much awaited Meghalaya Legislative Assembly building, the governor said the state government is planning to construct a new assembly building in Mawdiangdiang in which administrative approval for an amount of Rs 141 crore has been accorded. The construction will commence shortly.
IT sector
Under the Information Technology and Communication Department, the governor said construction of the first phase of the IT Park at Umsawli, New Shillong, is in progress.
“The tech park will be a hub of several facilities including an in-house data centre, IT and BPO service centres, skill development center and Incubation centers. It aims to provide direct and indirect employment to more than 2000 people after the completion of first phase,” Roy said.
Under the Urban Affairs Department, work for the development of Polo Market is almost complete. Under SPA, the construction of new roads in New Shillong is in progress.
Agriculture
The governor said the Agriculture Department is moving forward with organic certification of major crops like tea and turmeric.
He informed that MEG Tea has been certified as organic tea under the NPOP and USDA organic standards.
The farmers’ information and advisory services have been strengthened through ‘Farmers’ Portal’.
The governor further informed that through the 1917 iTEAMS project, 16,193 registered farmers have been provided market and advisory services.
“This is operationalised through a toll free number 1917 and 21 Agri-Response vehicles,” he said.
Roy highlighted the creation of new Directorate of Food Processing and the various missions of the government which include Lakadong Turmeric mission, Jackfruit Mission, Mushroom mission and other festivals.
Tourist dept lauded
Roy lauded the Tourism Department for the huge inflow of tourists, both domestic and foreign, with 80 per cent increase in footfall in the last 10 years.
“Government initiatives along with community participation have led the tourism activities in the state to witness an increase trend. Meghalaya also plans to target tourism promotion in line with the State Tourism Policy taking into consideration the development of adventure tourism, eco-tourism, cultural tourism, cave tourism and also development of home stays,” he said.
“Financial assistance is being provided to entrepreneurs to set up home stays and resorts under the Meghalaya Tourism Development and Investment Promotion scheme,” the governor added.
Referring to Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, he said the Department of Tourism has recently inaugurated log huts and other infrastructure at Lake View and Orchid Lake Resort, which is part of the circuit of development scheme in East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi districts.
