The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya has written to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister calling for the creation of a district based around Mawhati.
In its letter, the GCCM also spoke on behalf of traditional village chiefs and thousands of farmers under Umsning and Mawhati constituencies living along the 82km Umsning-Jagi Road road to urge for the prioritisation of the reconstruction of the state highway, which has been in a dilapidated condition for the past nine years.
“Thousands of farmers, school children, residents seeking medical treatments, including common dwellers who have to daily access the Umsning-Jagi Road right from Umsning, Raitong, laiphewdiengngan, Mawdiengan, Mawhati, Umsohlait, Sohnidan up to Umsiang-Jagi Road get deprived of basic facilities like health care and education besides others etc. Roads play an important role in all aspects of development such as agriculture, fishery, health, education, small-scale industries, trade etc,” the letter said.
While welcoming the state government’s recent announcement to upgrade Mairang sub-division to a district, the GCCM said it feels that the backwardness of Ri-Bhoi also needs urgent attention.
“In this context we request your consideration to also create a separate Mawhati district out of present Ri-Bhoi district to include Mawhati, Umsning and Umroi Assembly constituencies so as to effectively improve the communication, livelihoods and to also bring administration closer to the people of the area,” it said.
“The Umsning-Jagi Road state highway we learn from news reports was to be recently funded by ADB (Asian Development Bank), however, the fate of this project is unknown. The people of the area cry for the repair and reconstruction of this road. It is a nightmare travelling on this stretch one can only imagine the fate of those travelling for medical treatment,” the GCCM added.
