Shillong, Dec 19: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday assured that the voluminous report of the expert committee on Meghalaya’s reservation policy will be made public once the mandatory scrutiny process is completed.

Responding to the Voice of the People Party (VPP) president Ardent Basaiawmoit’s announcement of a protest over the delay in making the report public, Sangma said there was no intention to withhold the document, stressing its sheer volume and sensitivity.

“It will be made public. As I said, it is huge — it is a 200-kg report, around 4,000 to 5,000 pages. One has to go through every single word, because even a comma can change the meaning of a line,” the Chief Minister told reporters.

Explaining the delay, Sangma said senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, are required to examine the report in detail before placing it before the Cabinet.

“The Chief Secretary and other officials have to go through every line and every page. It is a very big task. Once they submit it and place it before the Cabinet, it will be made public. There is no question of not making it public,” he said.

Emphasising the report’s significance and sensitivity, the Chief Minister said the government cannot afford to overlook any portion of the document.

“This is an extremely important and sensitive matter for the people of Meghalaya. The officials cannot simply ignore even a single page or a single word,” Sangma added.

The expert committee’s report is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of the state’s reservation policy, a subject that has generated widespread public and political interest.