Are you sending drunk people to attend to citizens? CM slams officer in public

Mawkyrwat, Jan 24: Citizens of Ranikor and adjoining areas got to witness another side of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday when he castigated an officer in public for disregarding people’s needs despite complaints being raised.
Known for his calm and composed demeanour, the chief minister was visibly vexed when a woman raised the issue of frequent attacks by wild elephants on crops and homes in Ranikor area which has been going on for two years.
When the woman hailing from Mawpyllun village urged the CM to intervene into the matter, an officer informed the CM that they have set up a quick response team and as soon as they get information about elephant attacks they deploy the team immediately.
However, the woman informed the CM that the response was often very late and when the quick response team arrives they are usually drunk.
Sangma called the Nongstoin Range Officer to the stage and admonished him. “Are you sending drunk people to them? This is not acceptable at all. Delaying is a different issue, but going drunk is something that I cannot accept. There is a time to drink and there is a time to work. It is a matter of life and death, and stern action should be taken against those people whoever they are,” he said.
When other people said that the wild elephants have been staying in the area for more than two years, the CM instructed the senior officers to provide support to the Nongstoin team so that they can handle the situation and attend to the people who are scared of their lives.
Other issued raised by citizens during the block-level community interaction under CM-Connect held at Pamdaba Playground in Ranikor, South West Khasi Hills, included road connectivity, water connectivity, electricity problem, low farm production, tourism and Aadhaar problems.
Taking opportunity of the programme, a villager from Nongnah enquired about the initiative taken by the government for promotion of tourism in Nongnah.
In his response, Sangma said the state government will float a tender of Rs 30 crore for construction of a resort at Nongnah, besides sanctioning money for the construction of an approach road and a viewpoint in the area.
The CM also instructed the South West Khasi Hills deputy commissioner to involve the youth and women in the tourism sector for employment opportunities.
“Tourism is not just about infrastructure, it is about how you make visitors feel and how you involve your community. Let us ensure that our youth and women are also involved,” he said.
Residents from Phlangdiloin village raised the issue of lack of road connectivity from Phlangdiloin to Ranikor, stating they had t walk for about two hours. Sangma admitted that it would be a major project since the road has to cross the Rilang river, and promised the people that he will look into the issue.
Farmers from different villagers in unison shared their stories on low crop production and sought the CM’s assistances, to which he said that the farmers can take advantage of initiatives like CM Farm Plus and avail support.
Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, MLAs Pius Marwein and Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, Principal Secretary Sampath Kumar and others attended the programme.