Tura, May 04: Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma has said that additional funds would be given to all the newly created C&RD blocks to enable them to set up all the necessary infrastructures for their functioning. The Chief Minister informed this while inaugurating the Bajengdoba C&RD Block in North Garo Hills before a large gathering of over 5000 people on Thursday.
Former Chief Minister and Chairman State Planning Board, Salseng C.Marak, C&RD Minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar, local MLA and Parliamentary Secretary Brigady N.Marak, other Parliamentary Secretaries, Cherak W. Momin and Sengnam Marak, Chairperson, State Development Reforms Commission Bluebell R. Sangma, former minister C.B. Marak, North Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, S.C.Sadhu and Director, C&RD, I.R. Sangma and district officials were among many other dignitaries present as the residents of Bajengdoba area celebrated the occasion with songs and dances.
Stating that the government’s agenda is to address the concerns of economic and developmental disparities across the State in all
sectors, the Chief Minister expressed his joy on being able to fulfill the promises made in their election manifesto which he said was a true spirit of democracy and should be a guiding principle to every government. Informing that 186 villages with over 50,000 population would come under the new block, he said that the focus now should be to clear all the pending bills like wages under MGNREGS at the earliest and bring down to zero balance, so that all new payments can be made from the new block. He underscored the importance of C&RD blocks through which most developmental schemes are channeled adding that for the first time in the history of the State the highest budget allocation has been made for C&RD this year.
The Chief Minister also stressed the need to revive and rekindle the “civilized mindset that our forefathers had, who knew the art of peaceful coexistence with all people” and send out a strong message that Meghalaya is able to showcase the spirit of unity and fraternity and set an example of being accommodative, capable of taking care of the most vulnerable groups of people.
Chairman, State Planning Board, Salseng C. Marak, while speaking on the occasion, expressed his gratitude to all the people who have generously donated lands for creation of various infrastructure in the district, including for construction of the Resubelpara Civil Hospital and added that if the pace of development under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma, Meghalaya can be at par with other developed states within the next few years.
C&RD Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, local MLA & Parliamentary Secretary Brigady Marak and C&RD Director, I R Sangma were among others who also spoke on the occasion while Deputy Commissioner S.C. Sadhu read out the government notification declaring Bajengdoba as C&RD block.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the newly constructed Inspection Bungalow of PWD (Roads) which would be utilized as a temporary block office till a permanent block office complex is constructed.