Exclusion of wooden bridges from road project irks GSU
TURA: The Garo Students’ Union (GSU) from Salmanpara in South West Garo Hills has questioned the exclusion of two wooden bridges from a major road project in the district and raised suspicion that large-scale corruption may have taken place during its construction. According to the union, the road, in question, is the Ampati to Purakhasia state highway, which was recently constructed under German technology. Interestingly, although the project has been completed, two wooden bridges located on the highway at Chepagre village which were to be upgraded to RCC, were left out from the project. The union also claimed as the road was constructed without following necessary rules and guidelines, the just-constructed road is already getting damaged. “As the newly constructed road is already getting damaged, people from the area, especially school students, are facing hardships while using the road. Besides, there is risk for vehicles travelling on the two wooden bridges due to their dilapidated conditions,” the union said. The union has submitted a complaint to the executive engineer of PWD (Roads), Ampati Division, urging the latter to facilitate the early repair of the damaged road including the two wooden bridges. With regard to the exclusion of the two wooden bridges from the road project, the GSU said it would take steps to find out the reason for the same.
FIR against Tysam Fest organisers
TURA: Noted Garo Singer, Lucas Marak, has filed an FIR against the organisers of Tyisam Festival in South Garo Hills for allowing his songs to be performed by local artistes. In the FIR filed at Araimile Police Outpost in Tura, Marak claimed that the organisers of festivals like Tyisam and many others take advantage of genuine local artistes and allow their songs to be played to gain access to government funds, which are actually meant to uplift Garo art and culture and genuine local artistes who are struggling. “It has been found that certain individuals, along with the organisers, indulge in cheating the government by showing social cause and artistic promotions but they do nothing fruitful on the ground. They hire non-artistes in the name of some music bands and make them perform hit songs just for their own monetary gains,” Marak alleged in his FIR.
Office set up to address grievances
TURA: With a view to redress the grievances relating to Mid-Day Meal (MDM) and Integrated Child Development Schemes (ICDS) in East Garo Hills, the district administration has set up the office of the District Grievances Redressal Officer (DGRO) in the office of the Deputy Commissioner in Williamnagar under the Meghalaya State Food Commission and the National Food Security Act, 2013. An official statement issued in this regard said that the National Food Security Cell had also been set up in the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Supply to expedite the redressal mechanism on issues of food security. The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Aloysius Ch Marak, as the DGRO has been entrusted to deal with the complaints, malpractices and misappropriation relating to the MDM and ICDS.