Govt to take immediate steps to improve infrastructure of Pine Mount School: CM

SHILLONG, OCT 17: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday assured immediate steps will be taken to improve the toilet facility, hostel facility and other infrastructure of the premiere institute – Pine Mount School in Shillong.

Sangma along with the education minister Lahkmen Rymbui conducted a surprise inspection of the school following complaints received from several quarters about the pathetic conditions of the school. They were accompanied by Chief Secretary DP Wahlang and other officials of the government.

“Based on the concerns regarding the amenities like toilets, we have taken a decision on the spot that whatever repair has to be done to improve the toilets and other infrastructure, which requires repair, that will be done,” the chief minister told reporters.

Stating that the hostel facility was not at all up to the mark, Sangma said, “We have also decided to address this issue. In fact there is a proposal already and the sanction has already been done but the tender process took a bit of time. So I had spoken to the PWD (Buildings) Minister that the tendering process should be completed at the earliest and before the next academic year starts that we would want the construction work of the new hostel building to start.”

“In the meantime we are making rearrangements for the students who are in the hostels. We are looking at multiple options and we will take a call on that in the next few days’ time on how to accommodate the children who are in the hostel in temporary facilities around the campus only – we are examining that too,” he added.

The chief minister also inspected the auditorium which was lying unused and said, “We feel it can be put into better use. We will be repairing this and deciding on how we will use it in the future.”

According to him, the playground – which is in a bad condition – will also be improved.

When asked, the chief minister said, “Though these are matters that do not require us ministers to come but of course small matters like these are important to us and concerns of students are important to us. Therefore, every single thing that we can do to make things better we will do it.”

On the recent demand to remove the incumbent principal, Sangma said allegations could be there but that is something which the department is looking into and will soon submit a report. He however said the objective of the inspection was to take steps to improve things in the school and ensure the same will be done in a much faster pace.

By Our Reporter