A village headman submitting a memorandum to CM Conrad K Sangma on November 3.
Tura, November 4 (MExN): The Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad K Sangma visited Dura Kalakgre (West Garo Hills) on November 3 to initiate welfare and development of the village and its adjoining area.
The village, located on the foothills of the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, is the main source of water for the town of Tura.
During the same, the villagers expressed their concerns to issues pertaining to the development of the village and its adjoining areas on the foothills of the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, informed a press release from the Office of the Chief Minister, Meghalaya
The further sought CM’s intervention for the early completion of the road construction and better connectivity to enhance connectivity for transportation of agriculture and horticulture produces, it said.
The village is adjacent to the Biosphere Reserve has potential for tourism and the people have also sought for development of basic amenities to cater to the need of visiting tourist.
The villagers submitted a memorandum and the CM assured that it would be taken on urgent basis, it added.
Sangma, according to the release, also informed that under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund of NABARD, the demand for connecting road to different villages would be initiated.
“The villages in the foothills of Nokrek are lush green and beautiful. By enhancing connectivity and creating basic amenities, we will be able to market the villages as eco-tourism destination in Garo Hills,” he added.
Assuring to consider the demand of enhancing water supply in the villages, the CM said, “Dura Kalakgre and adjoining villages has been generously contributing for the supply of potable water to Tura town but the irony has been that no attention was given in the past for these villages. We will provide thrust to ensure that our government is able to repay back and ensure basic development in this village.”
He also has acknowledged the demand for setting of sub-health centres in these areas to cater to the need of the villages and issued directive to the department to consider the demand of the area in the next financial year.
On promoting tourism in Nokrek and the adjoining villages, the CM said that the US was keen to collect the remains of plane that crashed during the World War –II in the area and urged the locals to preserve the site, the CMO release said.
He informed that 22 cr has been sanctioned to develop road and 12 cr for construction of view point, rest area in Nokrek, the release informed.
Another 600 cr is being expected from World Bank for initiating catchment protection and sustainable alternative to jhum cultivation along the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, it added.
