MAWKYRWAT, Sep 15: Construction of the Block Institute of Education and Training Centre (BIET) at Sakwang village, about 5 kilometres from Mawkyrwat in South West Khasi Hills has been halted for about four years now, and the Rikhain Lyngdoh Sakwang clan which had donated land for the college to be built on is weighing its options of taking the land back in the wake of the inaction.
The construction work of the building had started in 2015-16 but in 2018, the contractor stopped the work, and till date it has not resumed. The construction work was in its initial stage with only the foundation and pillars being installed — less than 10 per cent of the entire work.
The clan has expressed concern over the prolonged delay and is likely to take the land back if the government does not address the issue.
Speaking to The Shillong Times after an inspection of the BIET on Thursday, secretary of Rikhain Lyngdoh Sakwang clan Shiningstar Kharjahrin said the clan had signed an agreement with the government in 2012 and donated the land for construction of the training centre. The agreement has expired since 2017, according to Kharjahrin.
On their part, the clan along with representatives of the Dorbar Shnong Sakwang had met the Deputy Commissioner on many occasions as well as the top officials of the Education department seeking redressal from the government, but all in vain.
According to him, the Rikhain Lyngdoh Sakwang clan plans to meet Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui to get insight into the delay in completing the project before taking a final decision on taking back the land.
If the land is taken back by the clan, the government will suffer loss amounting lakhs of rupees already spent in the beginning of the construction of the institute.
