From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI, May 26: Impressed with the success of the externally-aided projects in Meghalaya, the World Bank on Friday assured Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma that the international funding agency will continue to support the hill state in achieving its goal of $10 billion economy.
The World Bank has also assured support and coordination for delivery of upcoming projects in the state. These projects are essential for Meghalaya to realize its dream of becoming a $10-billion economy, Sangma said during a meeting with the country director and other top-level officers of the World Bank at Meghalaya House here.
Presenting the state’s vision of a $10-billion economy to the World Bank panel, Sangma said the state government has taken up a multi-thronged approach to realize its “dream vision”.
“The state has implemented many citizen-centric initiatives augmenting all facets of socio-economic development and governance. Taking cognizance of the needs of the citizens and rapid evolving global order, the state has initiated several reforms in the sectors of roads, water and governance,” the CM said. “One such key landmark initiative is MeghEA, which is the first of its kind by a state in India. The e-Proposal System, part of MeghEA has been lauded & awarded by the UN-WSIS Award,” he pointed out.
The CM lauded the World Bank for being a valuable partner in Meghalaya’s development and its continued support to the hill state.
“The state faces significant challenges in project implementation; however, through synergistic efforts, we have achieved success and development interventions with the help of externally funded projects,” he said.
Currently there are 12 externally-aided projects being implemented in the state and additional 11 projects are in the pipeline. This accumulates to over Rs 10,000 crore of external funding for the development of the state. Out of these, over Rs 2400 crore have been secured from the World Bank. Major projects that have been taken up with the support of the World Bank are Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project (MITP), Meghalaya Community Led Landscape Management Project (CLLMP), Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project (MHSSP), and Meghalaya Programme for Adolescent Wellbeing, Employment and Resilience (MPOWER).
Chief Secretary DP Wahlang said, “This support mechanism from agencies like the World Bank aided by citizen’s zeal for progress and government’s efforts has put Meghalaya on a growth pedestal. This convergence would propel Meghalaya’s efforts in evolving the state as a growth center and open the economic corridor for the North east region.”
The key attendees from World Bank were Augustus Tano Kouame, Country Director, Junko Onishi, Lead Social Coordinator, Meghalaya, Benedicte, Senior Economist and Mohan Gopalakrishnan, Senior Economist.
The CM was accompanied by a delegation comprising Sampath Kumar, Development Commissioner, and Vijay Kumar D, Commissioner and Secretary, besides the Chief Secretary.
CM to attend inauguration of new parliament
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, who arrived in New Delhi on Thursday night, will attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday. His National People’s Party (NPP) is a part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Major opposition parties are boycotting the event.
The NPP’s lone Lok Sabha member, Agatha Sangma will reach the national capital on Saturday to attend the inauguration. She is the leader of the NPP in Parliament. Sangma will also attend a meeting convened by the NITI Aayog for all states on Saturday.
Nineteen parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, have come together to jointly announce the boycott, saying they find no value in a new building when the “soul of democracy has been sucked out”.
They have also protested the decision that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the building, claiming that this is an insult to the highest constitutional post.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new building, his party will not attend the event.
The new parliament building is said to have a magnificent artwork and a ceremonial sceptre ‘Sengol’ among other features. The Rs 971 crore complex will be a symbol of India’s progress, reflecting the “aspirations of the 135 crore Indians”, the website of Central Vista Redevelopment Project states.