Our Bureau
SHILLONG/TURA, April 3: The Governor of Meghalaya has constituted an All-Party Committee comprising recognised and registered political parties to discuss the establishment of a winter capital in Tura.
The committee will be headed by the Chief Minister of Meghalaya or a minister nominated by the Chief Minister. All political parties have been asked to nominate two representatives to be part of the committee. Relevant government departments will also be invited to participate in the committee’s deliberations.
The committee’s terms of reference include studying and examining the feasibility of setting up a winter capital in Tura and assessing the advantages and disadvantages of having two state capitals, based on demands made by various NGOs and civil society groups.
The committee will seek views from all relevant stakeholders and submit its report to the state government.
On Monday, the Meghalaya BJP extended full support for the demand to establish a winter capital in Tura, urging all elected representatives from the region to set aside political differences and unite behind the cause.
The party also called on elected representatives from Garo Hills to move beyond political posturing and back the demand.
During the recently concluded Budget Session of the Assembly, Leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma introduced a resolution advocating for a winter capital. However, the resolution did not gain support from the House, including from MLAs representing Garo Hills. In response, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma announced the formation of a committee to examine the long-standing demand.
Meanwhile, various pressure groups, including the Achik State People’s Front (ASPF), have begun organizing public meetings to push for the establishment of a winter capital. However, discussions with civil society and pressure groups were not mentioned in the official notification.
Move welcomed
The A’chik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM) has welcomed the formation of a committee to study the feasibility of making Tura the Winter Capital. However, AHAM urged the state government to ensure that the committee operates in a time-bound manner with clear deadlines to fulfill its mandate.
“The demand for a Winter Capital in Tura has been long-standing, with various CSOs and concerned citizens advocating for it as a means to bring governance closer to the people of Garo Hills. The terms of reference for the committee — to examine the feasibility, assess the advantages and disadvantages, and seek stakeholder views — are crucial, but without a strict timeframe for submission and implementation, this exercise risks becoming another delaying tactic,” said AHAM president, Georgeprince Momin.
He added that the aspirations of the people must not be reduced to a bureaucratic formality.
“If the state government is genuinely committed to this cause, it must ensure that the committee delivers its report within a fixed period and that the recommendations lead to tangible action. Otherwise, the formation of this committee will be perceived as merely a way to buy time and defer real progress,” stated Momin in a release issued on Thursday.