Shillong, Sep 29: Outgoing Meghalaya Chief Secretary Donald P Wahlang today listed traffic congestion, cleaning and beautifying Umkhrah River as unfinished priorities.
Wahlang pointed to Shillong’s traffic congestion as a major concern. He said short, medium, and long-term plans are being implemented, including construction of parking lots, scrapping of old vehicles and sanctioning of new road projects like the Western Bypass, Tura Bypass, and a high-speed corridor. He added that the introduction of railways in the state would require wide consultation with stakeholders.
Wahlang also said work on cleaning and beautifying the Wahumkhrah river had started late in his tenure but expressed hope that visible improvements would be seen in a year’s time.
He also stressed the need for community involvement in tackling the growing drug menace in the state.
Wahlang acknowledged that drugs remain a serious problem in Meghalaya and said the government has been taking a multi-pronged approach. “We have increased the number of drug rehabilitation centres. But it is very important that we work in tandem with the local community and stakeholders,” Wahlang said.
He added that enforcement alone will not be enough to address the problem. “Just trying to catch hold of the drug peddlers is not a solution. We need a lot of counselling, a lot of talking to the community, and working with church-based organisations to counsel victims,” he noted.
Wahlang expressed hope that through collective efforts of the government, civil society, and community groups, the state will be able to deal with the issue more effectively.
Looking back at his tenure, Wahlang said he leaves with a deep sense of satisfaction, having achieved most of the goals he had set when he took charge.
Expressing gratitude, Wahlang thanked the Almighty, his family, his colleagues across departments, and the political leadership for their constant support. “I never had any issues or problems during my tenure. From the political side also, I got all the support. I am exiting with a lot of satisfaction,” he said.
Reflecting on challenges, Wahlang said his tenure remained largely peaceful on the law-and-order front, apart from a few incidents such as the border firing with Assam, skirmishes along the boundary, and concerns at the Bangladesh border. He noted that insurgency and militancy had declined during this period, making the overall situation stable in Shillong, Jowai, and Tura.
On his achievements, Wahlang highlighted efforts to streamline the administrative system by updating service rules across departments and strengthening capacity building. “If departments did not have service rules, the departmental promotion committee would not sit. So, willy-nilly, they had to update them,” he explained.
As he moves to his next role as Chairman of the Food Commission, Wahlang said his focus will be on monitoring the Public Distribution System, midday meals, and nutrition programs in Anganwadi centres. “I hope that working together with the department will be a sine qua non to ensure good service is delivered to all,” he added.
Wahlang is set to retire on September 30 after serving the state for over three years and two months. Additional Chief Secretary Dr Shakil P Ahammed will succeed him.
