By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 8: The signatories to the Agreed Text for Settlement (ATS) have flagged serious delays, abandoned infrastructure projects, and lapses in monitoring following field inspections of several projects sanctioned under the agreement signed between the Government of India, the Government of Meghalaya and two factions of the ANVC groups in Garo Hills.
The inspection covered the Integrated Health Complex, Baljek Airport, the subdivision office and site, a farmers’ market, and the subdivision hospital operated by Christian Medical College Vellore.
State BJP vice president and Tura MDC Bernard N Marak on Friday said the field visit exposed serious lapses in implementation and stressed that the signatories to the agreement would not tolerate further delays in execution of sanctioned projects.
During the inspection of the Integrated Health Complex, contractors who had abandoned the work were instructed to either submit the necessary documents and resume construction or formally surrender the project.
The signatories observed that the delay in completing the health complex was depriving the public of improved healthcare facilities while also affecting employment opportunities for medical graduates.
At Baljek Airport, concerns raised by landowners over non-payment of compensation and other pending issues were noted during the visit. The revenue department was directed to expedite the land acquisition process, with concerns expressed that prolonged delays could discourage landowners from parting with their land for public projects.
The inspection team also instructed National Highways officials to immediately repair hazardous potholes along the highway, following which repair works were reportedly initiated by the concerned department.
During visits to the subdivision office and the proposed subdivision site, issues relating to land demarcation were raised, with assurances given that the matter would be addressed on priority.
The signatories also noted that the farmers’ market at Baljek remains non-functional and requires immediate operationalisation.
At the subdivision hospital run by CMC Vellore, the inspection team highlighted the need for government support for additional infrastructure to establish a nursing college.
According to Marak, the hospital is a 35-bed facility and not a 25-bed hospital as earlier reflected in State Monitoring Committee records. The hospital currently has facilities including a blood bank, five ICU beds, incubators and services catering to mother and child healthcare.
The signatories stressed that such facilities warrant further government support and expansion, while calling for stricter monitoring and timely completion of all projects sanctioned under the Agreed Text for Settlement.
