Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma announced a 100-day programme that his government intended to implement and vowed that the implementation of the programmes would be achieved within the stipulated time.
He was attending the state level function commemorating the 47th statehood day organized at U Soso Tham auditorium. Information and Public Relations Minister, A.L Hek and Urban Affairs Minister, Hamletson Dohling and other officials and dignitaries attended the function.
He said that making the secretariat an energy efficient building by using LED bulbs will be one of the programmes to be achieved within 100 days and the urban affairs department would be also asked to replace all street lights with LED.
“This will be done on a public-private-partnership mode and the saving that we make from power consumption, will be used for paying the private investors,” he said.
Informing that different departments like agriculture, tourism, health, and other departments will come up with various programmes with a direction to achieve within specified period, the Chief Minister emphasized the need to work together with other states instead of always seeking support from the Centre.
He said that his government has plans to partner with big states and learn from each other while also trying to get investment from them.
“In future we hope this trend of only working with the Centre, but with other states too,” he said.
The Chief Minister also urged people to look at other options that can help in saving energy and the environment including the use of electric vehicles.
“I will start using electric vehicles and charging point will be installed in the secretariat and other places,” he said.
Meghalaya has not been able to solve the inter-state boundary dispute with Assam since 1972.
The Meghalaya government had submitted documents to Assam to support its claim over the 12 areas of difference in 2011.
Speaking to reporters after the function, the Chief Minister said, boundary dispute has been an issue since inception of the state and successive governments have faced different challenges when it comes to this issue.
“This (problem) continues till now, and there are lots of challenges that the people at the border are facing. From the government side, discussions are always on, and whenever there are issues that come up in the border area, chief secretaries of the two states were always in touch with each other. On multiple occasions, I have had discussion at the official level with my counterpart. Therefore our efforts are on, and I think it is not something that is very easy to resolve as there are lot of challenges,” Conrad said.
He said that only through proper discussion solution would be found out adding that, “it (the problem) has been going on for many years, but we are committed to ensuring that we move forward and find a way acceptable to all.”
Meghalaya commemorated its 47th year of statehood on Monday amid feelings of disillusionment as the state has no proper boundary with neighbouring Assam till today.
Meghalaya was carved out of Assam, and it was declared full-fledged state on January 21, 1972.
To remind the state government that the state has been without boundary, the Khasi Students Union put up banners in various places expressing disappointment over the fact that the state has no boundary with Assam, while alleging that the state has no strong laws to curb influx.
The KSU also put up banners on the premises of the State Central Library.
One of the KSU banners said, “we are glad for getting our own state, but sad, as we are not owners of it.”
“In 47 years, government comes and goes. Where are developments and laws to check influx? Where are the rights of the indigenous?” the KSU banners said
The KSU also asked the government, “How many more years we will have a state without boundary? Forty seven years of statehood without boundary, are we happy or will we resolve this problem?”