Meghalaya: ‘Govt to examine all demands for civil sub-division’, says Deputy CM

From Our Correspondent | Shillong, June 20, 2018

Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong said that the state government cannot prevent people from placing their demand for creation of the Civil Sub Division.

"But the government would need to examine such demands made by the people according to its merits. We will also have to see if the demand is justified," Tynsong told media persons here on Wednesday.

After the announcement to upgrade the Ranikor Administrative Unit into a Civil Sub Division, the MDA-led government has been receiving requests from various corners for creation of the Civil Sub Division in other areas.

One of the requests has come from Congress MLA from Mawlai, Process T Sawkmie. Sawkmie had led a delegation recently to demand that Mawlai should get a Civil Sub Division.

Mawsynram has also demanded a Civil Sub Division. A meeting is being organised at Mawsynram on June 23 to deliberate on the matter.

On the claims of Mawsynram Congress MLA, Himalaya M. Shangpliang that the people of Mawsynram have been demanding for the creation of the Civil Sub Division for the past 15 years, he said that it does not matter whether the demand is pending for 15 or 40 years.

"The government would have to examine if there is any justification in creating the Civil Sub Division after assessing the need of the area," Tynsong said.

He however maintained that this does not mean that the government would not consider the demand of the people from other areas.

Meanwhile, Tynsong said that the creation of the Ranikor Civil Sub Division is highly justified since it is one of the most backward areas of the state.

"The local Congress MLA from Ranikor, Martin M Danggo for the past 12 years had been pushing for the creation of the Ranikor Civil Sub Division. But the government in the past did not pay any heed to his request," Deputy Chief Minister said.

He said that the present government feels that there is a need to bring the government administration closer to the people of Ranikor area since the area has remain neglected since the state achieved its own statehood.

_______________________________________________________________________________