Mairang (Meghalaya): Eastern West Khasi Hills, the newest district of Meghalaya, was formally inaugurated on Wednesday by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
Eastern West Khasi Hills is the youngest and the 12th district of Meghalaya, which was carved out of West Khasi Hills district, and has a population of less than a lakh people mostly from two Assembly constituencies – Mairang and Mawthadraishan.
The new district will be headquartered at Mairang which is about 40 km from Meghalaya’s state capital, Shillong. State Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh, Deputy Speaker Timothy Dalbot Shira, senior cabinet ministers and government officials witnessed the inauguration of the new district.
Inaugurating the new district of ‘Eastern West Khasi Hills’ amidst a festive mood in Mairang, Chief Minister Sangma said the district has been created based on the “people’s need” as West Khasi Hills district has been at the bottom of several parameters.
“In terms of infrastructure, human development index, education and overall development of the people, West Khasi Hills district has been at the bottom,” Sangma said while justifying creation of the new district.
Reiterating that creation of the new district is need-based, Sangma cited the example of West Khasi Hills district having one police station in an area covering 1300 sq kilometre.
“Therefore it is important that we bring administration closer to the people,” he said adding that the government is looking into the demands of other regions, but is also considering the finance required
to bring in development.
Stating that the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government doesn’t discriminate, the Chief Minister said, demands arise from several parts of the state when one area is developed.
Sangma was probably referring to the demand for the upgrade of the Sohra Civil Sub-division into a district for several years. There is also a demand for up-gradation of Dadengiri Civil Sub-division in West Garo Hills as a district.
“The MDA government has always kept the people’s issues as the top priority. Whatever concerns the people have raised, including those which were raised earlier, our MDA government has been very prompt to find an amicable solution to address the concerns,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, Sangma expressed amusement at people criticising the government for the name of the new district and said those on social media should instead try to provide suggestions on how to develop the new district.
He however said that several meetings were held to decide on the name and since the region falls in the Eastern part of West Khasi Hills district, it was named likewise.
“ Meghalaya follows the matrilineal system and since West Khasi Hills is the mother we thought there needs to be some lineage with the mother,” Sangma added.
