Shillong, June 28: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday announced creation of Mairang district, the 12th district of Meghalaya, which will be made functional before August 15.

Conrad said the announcement has been made to let the people of Mairang know and feel positive that the government will do its best to ensure that before the Independence Day the Mairang district is functional.

He said the process for the convertion of Mairang civil sub division to a full-fledged district has been slow due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Recalling his speech made at Mairang in March this year, he said he had mentioned that Mairang is at the bottom when it comes to sustainable development goals and that the main purpose of doing this is to really push the living standards of the people in Mairang and other parts of West Khasi Hills.

“Therefore, we decided and announced that we will go as I said that our endeavour will be that we make Mairang district functional before the Independence day,” he reiterated.

According to him, West Khasi Hills has been neglected a lot in terms of the economic standards of the people, the sustainable development goals and to raise livelihood of the people, and the only way to do is to bring administration closer to the people.

Demand for upgrading Sohra and Dadenggre to district

On the demand to upgrade the Sohra Civil Sub-Division to a new district, the Chief Minister said a consensus is yet to be arrived because of issue relating to the geographical mapping.

“…because of the geographical landscape and the area of Pynursla and down and the areas across the valley, so the geographical mapping is not coming to a point where we are able to really look at a consensus,” he said while informing that all these issues being discussed and the government will see how to move forward.

For Garo Hills region, he said that the minister for power, James K. Sangma has met him couple of times and demanded for a new district at Dadenggre keeping in mind that West Garo Hills is also a huge district.

“So we are examining all aspects. The power minister has been very clear that Dadenggre should be given a district but government has not yet taken any decision,” he said.