Meghalaya CM ends 18-year darkness in Pahamjula

CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG:  In a landmark grassroots outreach, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday visited Pahamjula village under the Jirang constituency in Ri-Bhoi district, where 77 households had been reeling in darkness for 18 years after a transformer burst in 2007.

Responding swiftly to a plea made last Friday by the villagers through local MLA Sosthenes Sohtun, the Chief Minister’s intervention led to the long-defunct transformer being repaired, with electricity restored in just three days — a moment residents described as liberation from “hell.”

Welcomed with heartfelt gratitude, the Chief Minister was visibly moved by the villagers’ plight and resilience. “This kind of neglect is unacceptable,” Sangma said. “It will be our responsibility to always listen to and resolve the concerns of our people.”

The visit, conducted under the CM-Connect Impact initiative, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing long-standing rural grievances. “It is a small but meaningful and happy moment for me to be here with the people of Pahamjula village in Jirang constituency,” Sangma added. “I feel a different sense of satisfaction in being able to share their concerns and this moment of joy with them after they have waited for 18 years to receive this transformer.”

MLA Sosthenes Sohtun expressed gratitude for the Chief Minister’s hands-on leadership, also citing major infrastructure gains like the NEC road from Nine Mile to Umsan that has significantly reduced travel time. He stressed the need for further development, especially electrification and road access in still-neglected villages.

The Chief Minister also urged that future CM Connect visits promote local engagement by having villagers prepare meals using indigenous ingredients. “This initiative aims to foster a deeper connection between the government and the people,” he said.

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