Fiscal health decides new districts: CM

SHILLONG, March 7: Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma on Sunday said the government will have to examine the state’s financial health before making any decision to create new districts, sub-divisions and community and rural development blocks.
He said the government needed to optimise financial resources to take governance closer to the people through smaller administrative units.
“One of the main criteria of the state government has always been to improve the delivery mechanism. The government realises that the administrative setup at the grassroots level needs to be strengthened. There are investments to be made but investments do not come in one go. It will take time to make investments,” he said.
Earlier, Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh had revealed that two new districts would be created in the state, the formalities for which were being finalised.
He had stated that the new district of Mairang would be carved out of Mairang and Mawthad-raishan constituencies under West Khasi Hills district.
“The creation of new districts, especially Mairang, was on the government’s agenda right from the very beginning. Mairang deserves to be upgraded into a full-fledged district,” the Speaker had said.