Meghalaya: Demand for more civil subdivisions at Ranikor

SHILLONG, June 25, 2018: National People's Party (NPP) led government's decision in Meghalaya to create Ranikor civil sub-division has triggered similar demands in other parts of the state.

The pronouncement to upgrade the Ranikor administrative unit to a civil sub-division has cost the Opposition Congress a legislator.

Martin M. Danggo, a five-time MLA, resigned from the Ranikor seat on Thursday. His resignation also cost the Congress the tag of being the single largest party in the Assembly.

Days after the NPP-led government made known its intentions to upgrade the Ranikor administrative unit to a civil sub-division, Congress legislators from Mawsynram, Mawlai and Umroi constituencies also made a similar demand.

Sources said the Ranikor civil sub-division is likely to be inaugurated on July 10.

On Saturday, during his visit to Umroi, chief minister Conrad K. Sangma was petitioned to create Umroi civil sub-division.

In a memorandum to Conrad, Umroi legislator George B. Lyngdoh said after more than 25 years as a district, Ri Bhoi is growing by leaps and bounds, but there is a lot more to be done for uplift of people.

"One of the measures to mitigate their problems is by bringing the administration closer to citizens. We are of the view that a civil sub-division has to be created in the district to ease the problems faced by people of Ri Bhoi in general and eastern Ri Bhoi in particular," Lyngdoh said in the memorandum.

He pointed out the recently-created Bhoirymbong community and rural development block under Umroi constituency caters to the entire eastern Ri Bhoi which has 133 listed villages and 11,722 households with a population of 65,528 as per the 2011 census.

These villages include those along the inter-state boundary with Assam under Block II.

"At present, the inhabitants of these villages have to cover miles to reach the district headquarters at Nongpoh. It is not only time-consuming, but also stressful. Eastern Ri Bhoi now deserves a civil sub-division, which will benefit people residing in these villages especially those on the inter-state boundary with Assam," Lyngdoh added.

Stating that eastern Ri Bhoi already has many state government offices and central government's establishments besides an airport and the crucial Shillong bypass route, the legislator added that the people of eastern Ri Bhoi should be given more attention and a civil sub-division should be created immediately in Umroi.

Source: The Telegraph