Meghalaya CS convenes review meeting at Tura

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 8, 2021

The Chief Secretary, MS Rao convened a Review meeting to discuss the implementation and status of important schemes and programmes today at Circuit House, Tura in the presence of Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, D P Wahlang, Director, Community and Rural Development, S C Sadhu, Joint Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, B Hajong, Deputy Commissioners’ of West, South and South West Garo Hills and concerned officials of the various Department of West, South and South West Garo Hills Districts.

Initiating the discussion, the Chief Secretary M S Rao said that since Covid-19 protocols were in place, and therefore, most of the meetings are being held only through video conference and added that holding the meeting in Garo Hills region is equally important in order to acquire firsthand knowledge about the status of the programmes being implemented in the respective districts.

In view of this, the concerned District Officials presented a power point presentation with regard to the status and progress of the schemes reviewed comprising of Jal Jeevan Mission – a flagship programme of the Central Government which aims to provide potable water to rural homes through Functional Household Tap Water by 2024, Land Acquisition Issues with regard to National Highway-51, Border Fencing Issues, Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana (Grameen) and (Urban), Status of Aadhar Enrolment, One Nation One Ration Card and Digital Connectivity in the respective districts.

During the discussion on the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in the district, the Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Ram Singh raised the issue of protecting the water source and catchment areas since almost all these water sources are encroached which needs immediate attention to rejuvenate the catchment areas by planting trees, etc while Deputy Commissioner, South West Garo Hills Ramakrishna Chitturi suggested that planning of these schemes should be done in consultation with the Village Water and Sanitation Committee since ultimately it is the village people who have to look after these projects and make it viable to serve the people to the maximum.

Meanwhile, the Additional Chief Secretary, D P Wahlang instructed the Deputy Commissioners’ and District Officials to ensure supply of water to various Schools and Anganwadi centres in the respective districts as part of the special 100 days campaign in consultation with the District School Education Officer since it is extended till 31^st March, 2021 and also to sensitize the village people especially women to test the quality of water in their areas by providing testing kits to them.