Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Urban Affairs Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar today inspected proposed sites for the new Meghalaya Secretariat at Umsawli, in the New Shillong Township (NST).
The other option for the new infrastructure is Mawpdang, the CM said, but Umsawli is preferable as it is closer to Shillong, which should make it easier for the public to access.
He and Dhar wanted to see for themselves the possibilities of shifting the whole Secretariat and other government departments to the NST.
“After coming here we have seen this area has been divided and given to different departments, so rearrangement has to be done. We are able to rearrange and get 220 acres of land, which will be sufficient for the Secretariat and other departments and also the accommodation that needs to be put up,” Sangma stated.
He added that other offices can go to Mawpdang, which was the initial plan. The government will consider how to connect Shillong city to Umsawli through new roads.
“All aspects are reviewed and we are positive that a new Secretariat can come up in this area. There are areas and issues that need to be discussed in the cabinet. Once all that is done, a final decision will be taken in a couple of weeks,” Sangma said.
He and Dhar also inspected the Shillong International Centre for the Performing Arts and Culture, which is also in the NST and which is nearing completion. The government had aimed to finish the project in the first half of the year but missed that deadline.
SICPAC “will surely stand out as one of the best arts and culture hubs of the North East region,” the CM said on social media.
