From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH, April 22: The state government has initiated plans to construct a new Meghalaya House in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, to ease accommodation difficulties faced by people from the state, particularly those travelling for medical treatment, as the condition of the existing Meghalaya House has deteriorated beyond repair.
General Administration Department Minister Sosthenes Sohtun told reporters in Nongpoh on Wednesday that the decision was taken following concerns raised by several legislators over the condition of the existing Meghalaya House in Vellore.
He said the new Meghalaya House will be constructed at the same site at an estimated cost of over Rs 20 crore. It is likely to have more than 50 rooms. The project is at an advanced stage of planning, and once all necessary formalities are completed, tenders will be floated.
Regarding North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum’s proposal to allocate Rs 50 lakh for repairing the old Meghalaya House, Sohtun said while the government acknowledges the concerns raised by the MLA and other elected members, it cannot accept the same.
He explained that the suggestion is not in accordance with the guidelines of the Special Urban Works Programme or the Special Rural Works Programme under the MLA scheme. The government has already communicated to the MLA that such funds cannot be utilised outside the state, as they are meant for constituencies.
Asked about interim arrangements for people travelling to Vellore, the Minister said the government is addressing the issue by planning to rent a house in the area to accommodate residents from the state until the new Meghalaya House is completed. The construction is expected to take a little over two years.
