By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 9: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma won the favour of the Khlieh Nongsynshar of Sohra and Shella Areas (KNS&SA), which has expressed its gratefulness to the Chief Minister, who had assured in January this year to carve out one more districts out of East Khasi Hills, which is one of the biggest districts in the state.
In a statement, general secretary of the KNS&SA Banlam Lyngdoh urged upon the Chief Minister to initiate the process of creating the new district with the areas under Sohra Civil Sub Division being its major constituent. “We want that the headquarters of the new district should be in Sohra,” he said.
Lyngdoh also lauded the efforts of the Sohra District Demand Forum (SDDF) for its efforts since 2018 to pursue the demand for upgrade of Sohra Civil Subdivision into a district.
It may be mentioned that a conglomerate of various traditional heads held a meeting recently to discuss the formation of a new district, which was attended by the Syiem of Hima Sohra, Freeman Sing Syiem, who is also the chairman of the SDDF, Sohra MLA Gavin Mylliem, Shella MLA Balajied Synrem and Sohra MDC Titos Chyne among others.
Majority of the stakeholders who spoke at the meeting have expressed desire to work in unison to ensure the long-pending demand of a new district for Sohra turns into a reality.
At the meeting, former chairman of the SDDF, Atiar Syiemlieh, and NPP candidate from Sohra seat in last general elections, Alan West Kharkongor, were elected as advisers to the forum.
It may be recalled that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s much-anticipated visit to Sohra ahead of the Assembly polls in January had failed to bring cheers to locals, who waited with bated breath in the hope that he would declare creation of a separate district.
Much to their disappointment, Sangma had only assured that Sohra will be the headquarters of the new district which will be carved out of East Khasi Hills.
Conrad had further said that there is no doubt that East Khasi Hills would be divided into another district since trying to control the administrative exercise from Shillong is extremely difficult.
He had also stated that Sohra civil sub division has the necessary infrastructure for the creation of a new district in future.