In what may be termed as “see saw” game, the Community and Rural Development Block that was inaugurated at Wapung, East Jaiñtia Hills today has been shifted thrice since 2018.
The block which was earlier located at Khliehriat was shifted to Wapung and it was inaugurated by Chief Minister Conrad today in the presence of Community and Rural Development Minister Hamletson Dohling and Social Welfare Minister Kyrmen Shylla.
During his address, Sangma said that the shifting of the Community and Rural Development Block from Khliehriat to Wapung will bring administration closer to the people and added that the government would examine the need to create more block offices in locations that deserve administrative strengthening.
“As per the needs of the people of the State, the government will examine the setting up of more administrative blocks. There are many regions in our State, where the people have to travel huge distances to access government services…and that is very unfair for the citizens. The government will examine the possibility of putting up more blocks to bring the administration closer to the people,” he said.
It may be recalled that on November 6, 2018, the Wapung C&RD Block was shifted to its original location at Khliehriat retaining the old name, Khliehriat C&RD Block.
The shifting was done after Khliehriat town became the district headquarters of East Jaiñtia Hills district.
After the creation of East Jaiñtia Hills district, the State government during the tenure of the then Community and Rural Development Minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar had decided to shift the Khliehriat C&RD Block to Wapung where the land was given free of cost by the villagers for construction of the office.
Meanwhile, today the Narpuh Border Area Joint Action Committee (NBAJAC), a conglomerate of headmen of Narpuh Elaka has demanded a separate C&RD Block for the area in order to cater to the far flung border villages such as Malidor, Ratacherra, Dona Umbluh, Huroi, Hingaria and others.
“The shifting of C&RD Block to Wapung will put a lot of hardships on the people of the Narpuh area, especially those located on the border. People who need the services of the block will have to travel a distance of 90 kilometers to reach the block office. Therefore, we demand a separate C&RD Block and the location should be at Lumshnong,” NBAJAC secretary Daiapherbha Lamare said.
Stating that Narpuh area is the most underdeveloped region of the State, NBAJAC alleged that the MDA government led by Conrad Sangma has openly ignored the area.
“If the Narpuh C&RD Block was not announced in the coming budget session of the Assembly in March 2022, we will boycott the State elections in 2023,” Lamare warned.
