Separate demands have emerged for spring, summer and autumn capitals in Meghalaya, in Jaiñtia Hills and West Khasi Hills.
While the Jaiñtia Hills unit of the Hynñiewtrep Youths Council (HYC) wants the region to be chosen as the ‘autumn capital’, its unit in West Khasi Hills wants Nongstoiñ the ‘spring capital’.
Jaiñtia Students Union has pitched for the area being home to the ‘summer capital’.
This comes in the wake of a demand for Tura to be named the winter capital of Meghalaya.
The HYC said that Jaiñtia Hills sends seven MLAs to the Assembly and has its own district council that is equal in strength to that of Garo Hills and this makes it “reasonable” for it to be home to an autumn capital.
Such a move will ensure the flow of more development to Jaiñtia Hills, bring the government closer to the people of the region who will no longer have to travel to Shillong for administrative reasons, ensure timely delivery of services, generate more employment for the youth, etc.
The HYC in Nongstoiñ says their demand is logical as the district has attained 46 years and is one of the biggest districts in the State.
Meanwhile, the JSU highlighted the amount of revenue that the Jaiñtia Hills generates for the Meghalaya exchequer through royalties and taxes earned through natural resources like coal and limestone as well as cement plants.
Despite this, the region “has not seen much development compared to other areas.”
