Three new projects at Ampati, Tura, Shillong proposed
TURA: The Mukul Sangma government has allegedly dropped as many as 45 projects under the DoNER ministry estimated at Rs. 356 crore and instead recommended three other projects valued at Rs 245 crore in their place to the Centre.
The Shillong Times has been privy to a copy of the letter written by a top DoNER ministry official to Meghalaya Government on September 18, 2013 referring to the Chief Minister’s letter that was addressed to the DoNER minister seeking the dropping of retained projects from priority list 2003-04 to 2010-11.
As many as 26 projects under Khasi-Jaintia Hills fell on the deleted list while for Garo Hills there were 15 proposed projects that were to be scrapped including four other proposals.
“Please refer to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Meghalaya D.O. Letter No. PLR. 113/2008/196 dated 10.09.2013 addressed to Hon’ble Minister, DONER for dropping of retained projects from Priority List 2003-04 to 2010-11 which are yet to be sanctioned due to various reasons and for retention of new projects against it,” stated the letter written by Viay Bhusan Pathak, IAS and Joint Secretary from the DoNER Ministry to Meghalaya Chief Secretary W M S Pariat.
The projects that have been dropped include construction of U Tirot Singh Memorial College in Mairang (Rs 3 crore), construction of school building and boys hostel of Hynriew Shnong secondary school, Mawkyrwat ( Rs 2.95 crore), Construction of Maharam Govt Secondary School, Mawkyrwat ( Rs 2.14 crore), construction of cultural complex-cum-district library auditorium in Williamnagar ( Rs 8.67 crore), construction of outdoor stadium in Tura and Williamnagar ( Rs 13.32 and Rs 7.82 crore respectively) and at Jowai (Rs 9.75 crore).
Some of the road projects that are to be scrapped include construction of a road from Ranikor to Phlangdiloin including a major bridge estimated at Rs 16 crore and the improvement of Baghmara-Maheskola road estimated at Rs 20 crore.
In place of the 45 projects spread across the length and breadth of the state, the Meghalaya Chief Minister has proposed three new ones- football stadium at his home constituency of Ampati ( Rs 40 crore), football stadium at Tura ( Rs 40 Crore) and an International Centre for performing Arts and Culture in Shillong at a whooping Rs. 165 crore.
