Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma found himself struggling to find the answer to a question posed by leader of the opposition Dr Mukul Sangma regarding the delay in the construction work of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning in Tura.
Rakkam Sangma informed the Assembly today that the civil construction work for the college has been completed. However, service connections such as water and electricity are still being processed, with plans and estimates being prepared.
The government has approved the establishment of the college and created 46 posts, including 25 gazetted and 21 non-gazetted positions. Initially, the institution will offer two four-year undergraduate courses – one in Architecture and another in Planning – each with an intake capacity of 30 students. On funding, the minister stated that the Centre had sanctioned Rs 26 crore for the project in a 90:10 funding pattern, of which Rs 23.4 crore has already been released.
Raising a supplementary question, Dr Mukul Sangma pointed out that the first installment of Rs 11.70 crore was released on February 28, 2017 (when he was still Chief Minister), and the work commenced soon after. He sought clarification on why the project was delayed despite the funds being available.
The Education Minister simply stated that the work had now been completed, but Dr Mukul Sangma pressed further, calling for accountability. “I understand that the work is done but the question is why it was delayed,” he remarked.
When Rakkam Sangma admitted he did not have an answer, Dr Mukul Sangma called this a lack of transparency. “This house needs a reply. If such delays continue, they set a [bad] precedent. With a 90:10 funding pattern, when funds are available, projects should be completed efficiently. We cannot establish just one such college in Tura while thousands of students across the state aspire for similar courses,” he asserted.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma then intervened, acknowledging that the construction was “delayed quite a bit” due to multiple challenges. He cited issues such as road connectivity, which was not included in the original project sanction, leading to difficulties for contractors. Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic stalled progress for nearly three years and local challenges – including incidents involving elephants in the area – also contributed to setbacks. However, he assured the House that the necessary road connectivity has now been sanctioned and completed.
Dr Mukul Sangma accused the Education Minister of withholding critical information, urging the Speaker to take cognizance. “What is the problem in sharing details? This kind of attitude amounts to a breach of privilege of the House,” he said.
In response, Rakkam Sangma assured that the government is now focused on obtaining approvals from the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). “The AICTE website opens only once a year in December, and we will apply for all necessary approvals in 2025 to begin running the courses,” he stated.
The CM once again intervened, clarifying that the Education Minister had no intention of withholding information. He stated that it was incorrect to assume otherwise, as the minister had specifically mentioned that he did not have the details at that moment.
