The State government has formed a committee to examine the proposal for creation of new districts, civil sub-divisions, administrative units and rural development blocks in the State.
The committee which was notified on April 6 is headed by Chief Secretary M S Rao.
The members of the committee include the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Principal Secretary (Community and Rural Development), Commissioner of Division (Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, Ri-Bhoi), Commissioner of Division (Garo Hills), Commissioner and Secretary (Personnel and Administrative Reforms), Commissioner and Secretary (Planning), Commissioner and Secretary (Finance) and Secretary (Home).
It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had on March 31 promised to upgrade Mairang civil sub-division into a new district in the State.
Sangma also informed that a high level committee headed by the Chief Secretary is working on the official procedures needed for creation of the new district which will cover all areas under Mairang and Mawthadraishan constituencies presently part of West Khasi Hills district.
Similarly, there is growing demand for upgradation of Sohra civil sub-division into a full-fledged district covering Sohra and Shella constituencies.
It may be noted that Sohra civil sub-division is one of the oldest civil sub-divisions in the State.
Since 2018, prominent people including headmen of various villages under Sohra and Shella constituencies have formed the South East Khasi Hills District Demand Forum to pursue the demand.
The demand was also strongly supported by former Assembly Speaker late Dr. Donkupar Roy.
On October 1, 2018, a delegation of the Forum had also met Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and submitted a memorandum to him regarding upgradation of Sohra civil sub-division into a district with its head-quarter at Sohra.
Even during the funeral of Dr. Donkupar Roy on July 31, 2019, several local leaders including senior UDP functionaries had requested the chief minister to upgrade Sohra civil sub-division into a district as a fitting tribute to late Dr. Roy.
