RONGJENG: With hardly a month left for the State Assembly elections and with candidates and parties gearing up to woo voters with promises of development, the electorate is preparing to seek answers from politicians about their broken assurances.
Take the case of Rongjeng town in distant East Garo Hills which borders the West Khasi Hills district.
Blessed with pleasant weather all year round, Rongjeng which is 52 km from the district headquarters of Williamnagar, is surrounded by rich forests and is a major route for the transit of coal from the Nangalbibra region of South Garo Hills into neighbouring Assam.
However, although Rongjeng has everything, it does not have a college.
The only college that was supposed to come up three years ago remains but an abandoned half constructed building.
Seeing the difficulties faced by students of the area in seeking higher education outside the region, the citizens of Rongjeng had petitioned the then Tura MP (L) PA Sangma.
While there are around seven schools catering to students up to Class X, Rongjeng has only two higher secondary schools.
In the face of limited admission available many lose out on higher education.
Those who can afford it head off to Williamnagar, Tura, Mendipathar or even distant Shillong.
To bring an end to this grim scenario the foundation to start a degree college began to take form.
Funds were released by the then MP through the MPLAD scheme to kick start the construction work of the college after the Nokma of Darugre A’king with Onalson R. Sangma, donating his land for the purpose.
Work initially started in 2016 but has since been abandoned.
Citizens complain that money to the tune of Rs 10 lakh was sanctioned through the MPLAD scheme for the initiation of the project.
“We have come to know that the money has been withdrawn but misused. Looking at the site will reveal that only 30 per cent funds were used,” alleged citizens who are petitioning Deputy Commissioner Ram Kumar to constitute an enquiry into alleged misappropriation of funds by the contractor.They claim that as per guidelines provided by MoSPI regarding implementation of MPLAD scheme, 75 per cent of the project cost is released in the first installment.
“There is no question that around 80 per cent of the work can be completed with release of the first installment. So why has the work remained stagnant?” questioned local youth leader CG Momin.
Allegations of collusion between the contractor, government agency and others are being raised by concerned citizens.
“This is clearly misappropriation of public funds and a loss to the student community of Rongjeng,” said Rongjeng elder ZM Sangma.
There are worrying signs that unless completed within the five-year timeframe, the college could lose the land. The biggest losers would once again be the young boys and girls of Rongjeng whose dreams of contributing to society would end at the doors of a yet-to-be-built college.
