Shillong, Oct 17: Residents of Nongspung A village in Ri-Bhoi district have sought Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s intervention to expedite construction of a new school building promised during his visit on May 22, 2025.
In a complaint submitted to the Chief Minister on Saturday, the villagers recalled that Sangma had assured a new building under the Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund (CMSDF) in presence of the local MLA and Deputy Commissioner, and had signed a memorandum handed to Education Department officials.
However, they alleged that despite repeated representations over the past 17 months, the proposal moved slowly. DSEO T Shangrang forwarded the budget proposal to the DC on October 13, 2026, and the DC forwarded it to the CMO on October 14.
The villagers have now raised objections to the proposed design, alleging it was prepared by a civil engineer associated with SSA in Ri-Bhoi without visiting the site or assessing actual requirements.
According to them, the dimensions exceed the total land area available and the design appears to accommodate only the Lower Primary section, whereas the existing building houses both Lower Primary and Upper Primary sections.
They have urged an inquiry into the design preparation, a written explanation from the engineer, and whether a physical site inspection was conducted. They also sought review of the plan as per actual land dimensions and consultation with the village dorbar before approval.
The villagers stressed that correction should not cause further delay. “Our objection is specifically to an unsuitable design that does not adequately account for actual site conditions,” they said.
Nongspung A is aspiring to become a Smart Model Village and residents said a modern school building is essential for improving educational opportunities.
