NONGPOH: The Chief Adviser to the Government of Meghalaya, Dr D Lapang lays the foundation stone of the Rs 4.60 crore Umling Water Supply Scheme funded under the Minimum Need Programme (MNP). He was accompanied by the Minister in-charge PHE, Dr Celestine Lyngdoh.
The programme was attended by the Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi, CP Gotmare, senior officers of the PHE Department, officers from other line departments, prominent leaders of Ri Bhoi, students and the local villagers at large.
The Minister in-charge PHE, Dr C Lyngdoh praised officers from the PHE Department for their hard work in their efforts to provide better drinking water for villages in Ri Bhoi District. However, in order to preserve the natural sources of water, the minister urged the public to refrain from burning the forest, cutting trees
Speaking at the function, Dr Lapang said that it was indeed a memorable day for the residents of Umling village to have been provided with this scheme worth more than Rs 4 Crores. He exhorted the gathering to work together with the officials and members of the village durbar for smooth implementation of the scheme.
Earlier, members of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council staged protest with placards near the venue to press for their 13-point charter of demands including implement of Inner Line Permit (ILP). Members of the council said that they would continue to stage protest whenever an MLA or Minister attended a function or programme in any parts of the Khasi-Jaintia hills as long as their demands were not fulfilled.
