MDC demands release of funds

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Aug 2: The independent Member of District Council (MDC) James Sylliang has demanded that funds be allotted for development of Block II areas.

According to Sylliang, the funds especially for development of roads in Block-II, Ri-Bhoi district should be earmarked from the Special Assistance Scheme of Rs 133 crore, since this area needed focus due to constant harassment by Assam authorities on border residents.

“If the EC has decided to allocate Rs 20 crore for the Nongstoin-Wahkaji-Mawthabah-Wahkaji-Phlangdiloin-Ranikor road I too demand that certain amount should be sanctioned to Khasi villages which are in bad need of road connectivity in Block-II, which falls under Mawhati constituency” Sylliang said. The EM also said that he was not opposed to the proposed allocation of Rs 20 crore for those areas in South West Khasi Hills but he as NDC of Mawhati constituency urged the EC under the leadership of the CEM, to allocate Rs 20 crore to areas under Block-II, from Sabuda onwards. Sylliang informed that when All Regiol Parties Alliance (ARPA) was in power and Ardent M Basaiawmoit was its CEM, he along with all MDCs of the KHADC including the opposition visited Sabuda, Block-II on July 29, 2014 to learn firsthand the problems faced by these border residents, the present CEM, Pynshngain N Syiem who was then the opposition leader had said that it was necessary to bring development to these border areas which are still backward but after he became the chief of the council no such initiative was undertaken. Sylliang also expressed his surprise that schemes amounting to Rs 20 lakh sanctioned under 13th Fince Commission when Fabian Lyngdoh, was the MDC, the particular scheme has not yet been implemented. Sylliang also informed that he will take up the issue of providing schemes to the areas in Block II at the EC to be held on Wednesday