Shillong, Jan 28, 2020: BJP MLA Sanbor Shullai along with state BJP president, Ernest Mawrie met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at his New Delhi residence  recently and sought his intervention so that the Garrison Ground can be utilised by civilians.

The MLA suggested signing of an MOU with the defence authority. Garrison Ground better known as Madan Kirkit at at Laban is in the possession of the defence authority at present.

The South Shillong MLA also requested the Defence Minister that Shillong Municipal building byelaws be extended and  made applicable to Shillong Cantonment area.

Shullai submitted a memorandum in this regard and requested the Defence  Minister  for early sanctioning of funds required for PHE water tank and upgrading the Cantonment school upto class 12  besides improving facilities of Goenka Hospital to 20 bed hospital.

The BJP MLA also urged the Defence Minister to allow the Shillong Cantonment Board to construct a shopping mall and parking hub  as there is  a huge section of land  lying unused in the commercial area of Shillong.

The BJP MLA including members of the Shillong Cantonment Area Development Committee will seek the state government’s intervention on the need to get the Garrison Ground utilised for public purposes besides extension of  the Municipal building byelaws to the whole of Shillong Cantonment area.

The BJP MLA said that earlier, the request for transfer of the Garrison Ground was requested for civilian usage, but nothing concrete has ever materialized.

The  State government can move the Central authorities  to sign an MOU with  the defence authority for utilizing the ground by both civilian and defence personnel.

“The defence authority has no reason to hold the ground as it is centrally located and underutilised. This would be in the best interest of both the civilians and defence authorities,” Shullai said.

In October last year, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had also taken up with Union Home Minister the matter related to utilisation of the Garrison Ground for national celebrations such as Independence Day and Republic Day.