By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 10: Congress MLA from Mylliem, Ronnie V Lyngdoh, has urged the state government to increase capital expenditure.
Speaking during the Budget debate in the Assembly on Monday, Lyngdoh pointed out that out of the Rs 30,000 crore budget, nearly two-thirds is allocated to revenue expenditure, while only one-third goes toward capital expenditure.
According to him, two-thirds of the state’s revenue comes from GST and excise, while the remaining one-third is generated from sales and trade.
Expressing concern that the current capital expenditure would not even cover a quarter of what MLAs have proposed, he urged the government to increase tax revenue to bridge the gap.
Addressing the issue of growing congestion in Shillong, Lyngdoh noted that while many higher secondary schools exist in the suburbs, students still flock to Shillong for college admissions. He urged the government to establish more colleges in the outskirts to reduce student migration into the city and ease traffic congestion.
“In Mylliem alone, we have no fewer than 25 higher secondary schools. Yet, hundreds of students travel to Shillong for college admissions every year, adding to the traffic woes,” he said.
Raising concerns about climate change, he stated that unpredictable rainfall patterns are already impacting people, causing significant losses. He warned that such hardships could potentially lead to unrest in Mylliem.
Regarding the upcoming four-lane road in Upper Shillong, Lyngdoh stressed the need for pedestrian footbridges, cautioning that once the road is completed, high-speed vehicular movement could pose risks to pedestrians.
Additionally, he suggested upgrading the existing facility at 5th Mile into a veterinary dispensary for public benefit. He also urged the government to construct protective walls along the Umiam river to safeguard agricultural land from floods.
