Shillong, Oct 29: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today attended the Golden Jubilee celebration of East Garo Hills at Rongrenggre Govt Higher Secondary School ground and inaugurated a slew of development projects worth over Rs 53 crore.
PHE Minister Marcuise N Marak, Williamnagar MLA, Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, MDCs, Nokmas, religious leaders, officials, teachers and students were present.
Addressing the gathering, Sangma said the Golden Jubilee marks 50 years of Williamnagar as an important administrative, educational and economic centre of East Garo Hills.
He recalled the contributions of eminent leaders Williamson A Sangma, Choronsing A Sangma, Lolith R Sangma and Rev M Marak in creation of the district and thanked Nokmas Tiren Sangma, Chingban Sangma, Asin Marak, Dingnang Sangma and Mison Sangma for donating land for government offices.
“Road and bridge projects address connectivity required to support growth. Education will strengthen human capacity, sports will support youth development, roads and housing will support planned urban growth,” Sangma said.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister inaugurated upgraded facilities at Williamnagar Higher Secondary School and inspected the ongoing Rs 9.40 crore Multi-Purpose Indoor Sports Hall and interacted with sportspersons.
The Chief Minister inaugurated upgradation of internal roads of Williamnagar Town covering 13.989 km at Rs 26.92 crore under World Bank funded MITP, widening of Rongrenggre-Simsanggre-Nengkhra Road from 10th to 16th km at Rs 15.98 crore under RIDF XXVIII, interlocking concrete block roads in Williamnagar Town covering 4.40 km at Rs 4.70 crore, and the Rongongre Bridge. He also laid foundation stones for 8 units of MIG Buildings at Williamnagar at Rs 3.61 crore and for the Commandant’s Office Building of 5th Battalion, Meghalaya Police at Samanda at Rs 2.63 crore.
Former MLAs, MDCs, prominent citizens and Nokmas were felicitated. Certificates under MSSDS to inmates of District Prison and Correctional Home trained under CM Skills Mission and SHG trainees of Kusim Rongmitel trained in wood carving, startup tool kits and MOTHER Kits under CM Safe Motherhood Scheme were also distributed.
Williamnagar, named in honour of Captain Williamson A Sangma, was established as Simsanggre Civil Sub-Division on Jan 26, 1972 and upgraded as East Garo Hills district headquarters in October 1976.
