Block inaugurated

SHILLONG, DEC 7:  Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Zenith Sangma inaugurated the Damalgre Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Block office at Rerapara under South West Garo Hills on Wednesday. He also laid the base for a suspension bridge over river Ganol at Anggalgre in lower Damalgre. The Minister inaugurated the block office and laid the base for the suspension bridge in the presence of GHADC Chairperson S M Sangma, South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Cyril Darlong Diengdoh, DRDA project Director and Additional Deputy Commissioner H D B Sangma, Damalgre C&RD Block Development Officer A G Momin and a host of other officials.

                     The Damalgre C&RD Block office which will cater to over 149 villages is constructed on land covering 10.71 hectares acquired from the Nokma of Rerapara. The suspension bridge at Anggalgre, spanning 140 meters was sanctioned under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund XXIII with an estimate of 2.70 crores and its construction is being undertaken by the PWD (R) department. The construction is expected to be completed by the next five months or so.

Addressing the gathering Zenith Sangma acknowledged the efforts of the Block Development Committee and remarked that the day was worth remembering as their tireless efforts to demand for the creation of a C&RD Block in their area had finally resulted in the realization of the aspiration of the people of the region. He said that though the block office had become fully functional there were still some minor hiccups that have to be straightened out.          ‘’From this day forth the block office will be fully functional, however initially there will be some minor hiccups like the need to transfer of relevant files, transfer of names etc from Betasing, Rongram, Selsella and Gambegre C&RD Blocks which may take time’’ he said and urged the people to bear and cooperate with the administration.

Speaking on the endeavor of the government to bring administration closer to the people Sangma stated that new Damalgre C&RD Block was fully staffed with all the required employees and officers for a block administration to function optimaly. He informed that they had been attached to the office of the Betasing C&RD Block Development Officer and given induction training besides other capacity building trainings and were more than able to cater to the needs of the people.

‘’The suspension bridge at Anggalgre has since long been the demand of the people on the other side of river Ganol at lower Damalgre’’ said Sangma. He informed that the bridge had been sanction with an estimate of Rs 83 lakhs during his tenure as PWD Minister but was de-sanctioned by the subsequent government. Sangma said that the present bridge will be built with the use of the latest technologies and enable the bridge to sustain the weight of a small car. The Minister also urged the people to provide land to the government to accelerate the establishment of necessary infrastructures to take the region forward.

GHADC Chairman and Dengnakpara MDC S M Sangma thanked the government for creating the Damalgre block and bringing the administration closer to the people. ‘I believe that the new block will immensely benefit the people of the region who otherwise had to go all the way to Gambegre, Selsella, Rongram and Betasing C&RD Blocks to meet their needs.’’ She said.

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Cyril Darlong Diengdoh delivering the welcome address congratulated the people of the area and said that the new block will cater to all the block level needs of the people. ‘’We are happy to announce that the block has been staffed with all the necessary employees and officers. DEOs, JEs and Extension Officers were recruited during the month of June and inducted into the Betasing C&RD Block. They were provided necessary trainings to build their capacities and make them efficient’’ he said.

Among others who attended the gathering were Vice Chairman, Meghalaya Resource Mobilization, Divendra Hajong, Additional chief Engineer PWD (R), Tura, G K Marak, S E, PWD R), C N Sangma, A E E, PWD R), J D Sshira and Rerapara Nokma K Ch Sangma.

By Our Reporter