Meghalaya: Protests erupt over delay in construction of Rongjeng Model College

Fresh allegations of laxity in developmental work have come to the fore in the state of Meghalaya against the NPP-led State government. A protest rally was organised on Saturday against

Fresh allegations of laxity in developmental work have come to the fore in the state of Meghalaya against the NPP-led State government.

A protest rally was organised on Saturday against the delay and negligence in the construction of the Rongjeng Model College in Rongjeng of Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills.

The protest rally, against the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the Government in the construction of the Model College under the centrally sponsored scheme Rashtriya Uchchattar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), was held under the leadership of civil society groups and actively participated by the people of Rongjeng.

Notably, the Rongjeng Model College is being constructed at a cost of over Rs 12 crore and was started in the year 2019 with the contract given to Rakesh Sangma, the former CEM of Garo Hills Autonomous Hills District and MDC of Babelapara.

However, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic hit the progress of the project, leading to a delay in its completion.

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However, what has angered locals is the changes made in the project without any prior notification.

The locals also alleged poor quality work in the construction of the project.

During the rally on Saturday, the protesters shouted slogans against the Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma, Education Minister Lakhmen Rymbui while also voicing out their anger against the Rongjeng MLA Jim Sangma.

Talking to the media, Mettrinson G Momin, the former MDC of GHADC, said that the people of Rongjeng have organised this rally to protest against the neglect towards the construction of the model degree college.

Momin said that they are not satisfied with the NPP-led Meghalaya Government’s performance.

Meanwhile, the protesting organisations have decided to continue their agitation until their voices are heard and will sit in a demonstration in front of the Community & Rural Development office on March 9.

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