Meghalaya is all set to get its 12th district with Mairang subdivision being carved out as a new district, chief minister Conrad Sangma said on June 28.
CM Sangma said that the process will be completed by Independence Day this year.
“Mairang will be the new district of our state. Because of COVID, the process has been slightly slow but to let the people know and feel positive about it that we will do our best to ensure that before Independence Day the Mairang district is functional,” he said.
“This has been a genuine demand of the people of Mairang area and adjoining constituencies. Mairang is at the bottom when it comes to sustainable development goals and the main purpose of doing this is to really push the living standard of the people in Mairang and other parts of West Khasi Hills and therefore the need was very justified,” the chief minister asserted.
“When we look at the size of West Khasi Hills district and the economic standard of the people, the sustainable development goals, West Khasi Hills has been neglected a lot and to bring development and to raise livelihood of the people which I have been speaking for a very long time – the only way to do is to bring administration closer to the people,” Sangma said.
Asked about Sohra (Cherrapunjee), the chief minister said: “It has been an area of concern. There has been demand for it but because of the geographical landscape and the area of Pynursla and down and the areas across the valley – so the geographical mapping is not coming to a point where we are able to really look at a consensus. So, all those issues are being discussed and we will see how to move forward.”
About demand for upgrading Dadenggre subdivision under West Garo Hills district as a new district, Sangma said: “We will examine. Power minister James Sangma met me couple of times and demanded for a new district at Dadenggre as West Garo Hills again is a very huge district, but government has not yet taken any decision.”
