Education Minister Rakkam Sangma today informed that the Science and Commerce College in Mawphlang will be completed within this month.
He informed the house that the project implemented by PWD (Buildings) has achieved 86 per cent physical progress. The government has sanctioned 46 posts, and preparations for electricity, water supply, and road blacktopping are ongoing, he said.
The project, approved in 2017 with a funding ratio of 90:10, received a total of Rs 31.1685 crore out of the sanctioned Rs36.55 crore, with the latest instalment of Rs 8.5075 crore released in October 2024.
Meanwhile, the Science and Commerce College Bahksapara (Mahendraganj) project will be completed by March next year, the minister informed. With 66 per cent progress, the government has also approved 46 posts for the college.
The project was sanctioned Rs36.31 crore in 2017, and Rs23.5274 crore has been released so far. However, due to slow progress, Rs16.367 crore lapsed in the 2023-24 financial year, with only Rs1.66 crore utilized. A fresh instalment of Rs9.6634 crore was released in October 2024, he informed.
Leader of Opposition Dr. Mukul Sangma questioned the financial progress of both projects stating that physical and financial progress should align. He sought clarity on the amount paid to contractors, but the minister did not have the exact figures and sought notice.
Dr. Mukul further pointed out that despite the release of Rs18.027 crore in April 2023; only Rs 1.66 crore had been utilized, raising concerns about delays. The Education Minister attributed the slow progress to the contractor’s inefficiency, stating that the government had issued warnings and was now pushing for timely completion.
Dr. Mukul emphasized the growing demand for enrolment and the need to prevent students from seeking admission in private institutions due to delays.
The minister responded that faculty recruitment was already underway, with placements expected by the next month, and the academic session for 2025-26 would begin as planned.
He said the colleges would have academic blocks, boys’ and girls’ hostels, staff quarters, and auditoriums.
Mawlai MLA Brightstarwell Marbaniang pointed out that while the minister assured an early start to the academic session, the Mahendraganj project’s revised completion date is March 2026.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma intervened stating that the government had reviewed the matter and decided to start classes in completed portions of the colleges while construction continued. He acknowledged that the delay was unavoidable but stressed that losing an academic year would be worse. The government plans to push contractors to expedite work while ensuring students can begin their courses without further delays.
