Shillong, Jul 8: The state cabinet on Wednesday approved the allotment of 50 acres of land at Mawkhanu for the establishment of St. Xavier’s University.
According to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, the university authorities had sought 100 acres from the state government. After deliberations, the cabinet decided to allot land at a concessional rate of Rs 1 lakh per hectare.
Sangma stated that this decision will not only enhance educational opportunities but also serve as a vital investment in the youth of Meghalaya. He said the university’s presence is expected to attract students from across the Northeast, bolstering the region’s educational landscape.
Another decision taken by the cabinet was the approval for the acquisition of 3.972 acres of land in Thadmuthlong, West Jaintia Hills, for setting up an integrated Lakadong turmeric processing plant. This initiative, supported by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), aims to leverage the high-curcumin Lakadong turmeric, which has gained recognition in both domestic and international markets.
The chief minister said the estimated cost for this project is around Rs 187 crore, with the bulk of the funding coming from the centre, while the state government will contribute approximately Rs 30-35 crore. The land acquisition is expected to cost around Rs 1.7 crore.
He said the processing plant is expected to strengthen value addition and improve market opportunities for farmers.
The cabinet also approved amendments to the lease agreement for the Orchid Resort at Mawkasiang. The upgrade will transform it into a five-star resort, requiring a deposit of Rs 5 crore from the developer.
As part of the revised agreement, the developer will be required to make a one-time deposit of Rs 5 crore and share 4 per cent of the resort’s annual turnover with the Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation. The revised terms are in line with conditions applicable to other five-star tourism projects in the state.
Furthermore, an allocation of Rs 36 crore was made for expanding the second IT park at Umsawli, which will include improved office spaces, a larger cafeteria, and an auditorium, to meet the requirements of prospective international companies.
Sangma said the project had to be placed before the cabinet because the additional expenditure exceeded 25 per cent of the original project cost. Under a recently adopted government policy, all projects requiring cost escalations beyond that threshold must receive cabinet approval before implementation.
