SHILLONG/JOWAI, Nov 17: In a minor bureaucratic reshuffle, East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ethelbert Kharmalki, has been transferred and posted as Secretary to the Mining and Geology department; the move, however, has drawn flak.
According to a government order, Additional Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills, SS Syiemlieh, will take over as the new Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills with effect from the date of handing over charge of Kharmalki.
The order has also necessitated that Secretary, Forests & Environment department, Dr. C Manjunatha, be relieved of his charge as Secretary of Mining & Geology department with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, several Jaintia Hill-based organisations have registered opposition to the transfer of East Jaintia Hills DC, E Kharmalki, and stated they are ready to protest against the move.
These organisations include EJNC, JSM, JSU, KSU, FKJGP and HNYF.
The groups held an emergency meeting on Wednesday over the matter after learning about Kharmalki’s transfer.
“He joined duty only on September last year and there are still pending development projects which are yet to be completed and the transfer of those officer without considering their tenure will badly affect developmental projects,” said EJNC president, Sambormi Lyngdoh, as he admitted that Kharmalki was a hardworking man as the deputy commissioner and cooperative towards the people of the district.
The groups have threatened to organise a number of agitation in the district in protest against the transfer order.
