Shillong, Nov 10: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma in the presence of Speaker of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Metbah Lyngdoh and other cabinet ministers and MLAs on Wednesday inaugurated the new district of ‘Eastern West Khasi Hills’, which was bifurcated from its parent district of West Khasi Hills.
Meghalaya is blessed with its 12th District- ‘Eastern West Khasi Hills’ today. This is the MDA’s commitment to not only listen but to fulfil aspirations of its people. Congratulations to the people of Mairang & Mawthadraishan to whom we dedicate this new district!@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/pKEmcW6GIz
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) November 10, 2021
The new district comprises of Mairang and Mawthadraishan C&RD blocks respectively. Mairang is one of the oldest civil sub-divisions, which was inaugurated on November 10, 1976 and exactly after 45 years, it was upgraded to a new district.
I share the joy of our people of Mairang & Mawthadraishan in welcoming Meghalaya’s 12th District ‘Eastern West Khasi Hills’ today.
This has been a long-awaited dream of the people, realised by the MDA Govt.! We dedicate this new milestone to the people! @PMOIndia @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/nSjIvfWd0c
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) November 10, 2021
The new district will be headquartered at Mairang.
Administration comes closer to people
Inaugurating the new district of ‘Eastern West Khasi Hills’ amidst a festive mood in Mairang, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said that the new district will bring administration closer to the people.
He said that the new district was a long felt aspiration and desire of the people and government had to consider it after screening different parameters. He also told the gathering about his visit to Mairang as an opposition leader, where people had spelt out on the need for creation of a new district. 
“The new district was created not because it is in Khasi Hills or Jaintia Hills or Garo Hills but purely on basis of certain parameters, which had put the region in the bottom list of all developmental activities. We wanted to bring administration closer to the people and, hence, the 12th district of the State was created,” he said.
He also took the opportunity to inform the people of the State that MDA government has always kept the peoples issues as top priority. “Whatever concerns the people have raised, including those which were raised earlier, our MDA government has been very prompt to find an amicable solution to address the concerns,” he added.
“We have been a public oriented and a people centric government, a government that is for the people of our State,” he stressed.
MDA government does not discriminate
He also told the gathering that whenever as Chief Minister, he inaugurates a development project there is always discontentment in certain parts of the State as he is labelled of being ‘selective’ and ‘preferential’ in carrying out development activities.
“Whenever I inaugurate a development project in Khasi Hills, inevitably there is a message from Garo Hills, saying what about Garo Hills… whenever I inaugurate a project in Garo Hills, there is a message what about Jaintia Hills …friends, let me tell you… that this MDA government does not discriminate based on tribe, caste, creed or religion… we don’t differentiate between Khasi, Garo or Jaintia Hills .. wherever development is required, we take decision to spread developmental activities,” he asserted.
Clarification on naming of District
Clarifying on the naming of the new district, the Chief Minister said that several consultations were made and different people were asked for their opinions.
“We are a matrilineal society, so we felt that some linkage with the parent district should be incorporated. Hence, the cabinet felt that since the region falls in the Eastern part of West Khasi Hills, we should name it as Eastern West Khasi Hills,” he said.
