Shillong, Oct 6: Tikrikilla C&RD Block in West Garo Hills, covering over 500 villages and more than one lakh people, has been without a regular Block Development Officer (BDO) for two months since the retirement of Daplin D Sangma, triggering administrative paralysis.
In a petition to the Commissioner & Secretary, C&RD Department the Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC), Pedaldoba Regional Unit said the block is being managed by an officer holding additional charge who visits rarely, leaving villagers to fend for themselves.
GSMC Chairman Rimjen Ch Sangma said MGNREGA muster rolls remain unsigned with wages pending for two months, PMAY-G verifications and installments have stalled leaving families under leaking tarpaulins, and issuance of residential, ST and income certificates has come to a halt affecting students’ scholarships and admissions. Development works under 15th Finance Commission, MGNREGA and PMAY have ground to a halt with no sanction and supervision, he stated.
Villagers from border areas like Pedaldoba, Kurung, Saltopgre, Rongsai and Bolsaldamgre travel 40 to 50 km spending Rs 500 only to be told the BDO is not available, Sangma said.
Flagging border sensitivity, he said Tikrikilla is Meghalaya’s frontline against encroachment from Assam and cited alleged entry of Goalpara ADC, Balijana CO and Assam Police into Kurung and Saltopgre on September 10 with eviction threats, in violation of Garo Hills Act, 1869.
He demanded posting of a senior MCS officer as full-time BDO within seven days on war footing and to work out on an interim daily presence of SDO Raksamgre or BDO Selsella at Tikrikilla from to clear pending files.
