By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 24: The Assembly on Tuesday witnessed a light-hearted moment when Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma rose to reply to a question on behalf of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Sanbor Shullai, who was absent.
The question was raised by NPP legislator from Gambegre, Mehtab Chandee A. Sangma, the Chief Minister’s wife, prompting smirks and smiles among legislators, including the Speaker and the Chief Minister himself.
During the ongoing Budget session, the Gambegre MLA asked whether the state government had any proposal to establish a College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry.
When Speaker Thomas A. Sangma invited the minister concerned to respond, the Chief Minister stood up and said he would reply to the questions as Shullai was not available to do so.
This drew smiles from members present in the House. In his response, the Chief Minister said the process of preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed colleges was underway and that the timeframe for completion would be finalised at the earliest.
In a supplementary question, the Gambegre MLA asked how many colleges had been planned initially. The Chief Minister said the Cabinet had approved three colleges in 2022—one each for veterinary science, fisheries, and dairy—keeping in mind the urgent need and the state’s large population dependent on livestock.
The Gambegre MLA also raised concerns about existing veterinary training centres in the state, highlighting manpower shortages and inadequate functioning, which adversely affect rural communities dependent on livestock rearing. The Chief Minister acknowledged the shortage of manpower and assured that steps were being taken to fill vacancies, although he noted that the primary question related to the proposed colleges.
He elaborated that planning for the three colleges had been time-consuming due to simultaneous development, identification of suitable land and manpower requirements. He said approximately 800 acres had been identified for the veterinary college at Kyrdemkulai in Umsning Block, Ri-Bhoi district, with an estimated financial requirement of Rs 334 crore. The college will have 19 departments, adding to the logistical requirements.
He emphasised that although the process had taken longer than expected owing to financial and administrative complexities, the government remained committed to establishing the colleges at the earliest. The Chief Minister also reiterated that the plans were mentioned in his recent Budget speech, signalling the government’s commitment to strengthening the state’s livestock, veterinary and agricultural education infrastructure.
