The State government has decided to suspend redevelopment activities at the cenotaph site at Lower Babupara, Tura, until further review.
The decision was taken during a meeting held between Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, the Joint NGO Forum and the Mothers’ Union today after a public outcry on the demolition of the monument to the Garo Labour Corps that served in the First World War.
It was also decided that a new committee will be constituted under the direct supervision of the chief minister.
According to the forum, there was lack of transparency in the tendering process and procedural violations by the Tura Municipal Board (TMB) and that the decision to form a redevelopment committee was a unilateral decision taken without proper consultation by the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner.
The forum said no official notification was issued for the tender, and a questionable contractor was awarded the project without due diligence.
The chief minister assured that the tender documents related to the cenotaph project will be personally scrutinised by him and any discrepancies or irregularities found in the process will lead to strict action against those responsible.
The meeting also decided to recognize and honour the descendants of the Garo Labour Corps, who had played a significant role in World War I. The chief minister assured that financial support will be extended for academic research on the Garo Labour Corps, ensuring that scholars and researchers can comprehensively document this forgotten chapter of history.
“With these significant commitments, the indigenous people of Garo Hills have taken a decisive step towards ensuring that their history is honoured, their cultural sites are protected, and governance is conducted with fairness and transparency,” the forum said.
