Shillong, Aug 18: Did you know that the proposal to have ropeways to ease the traffic congestion in Shillong was proposed 28 years ago!

Not just that but the idea was also to connect the remote and inaccessible villages of Meghalaya with ropeways.

Such was the vision and clairvoyance of late Salseng C. Marak, the former Chief Minister of Meghalaya, who passed away on August 16, but his contributions are coming to light only now as condolences pour in. He was laid to an eternal rest “as a good human” on Saturday at the Gajingpara Cemetery in Resubelpara in North Garo Hills district, following a state funeral at the Resubelpara Mini Stadium.

While mourning the demise of Marak, the Meghalaya State Planning Board recalled numerous contributions of Marak as the Chief Minister from 1993 to 1998 and as the chairman of the Board from 2013 to 2018.

“A visionary leader, Marak was a soft-spoken, down-to-earth, and practical gem of a person,” John F Kharshiing, the Co-Chairman of Meghalaya State Planning Board, said in a press statement.

He recalled that during Marak’s tenure as Chief Minister in 1993 and 1998, he played a pivotal role in the constitution and notification of the Meghalaya Economic Development Council, which included representatives from all political parties.

“His foresight led to the involvement and visit of Swiss/Austrian experts, who recommended the installation of ropeways to alleviate city traffic and connect the inaccessible villages of Meghalaya—an idea proposed nearly 28 years ago,” Kharshiing revealed.

During his tenure as Chairman of the Meghalaya State Planning Board from March 2013 to January 2018, the Planning Board initiated a number of inspections on the ground in many districts of the state and conducted a record number of review meetings with the various departments and made a number of recommendations to the government for its consideration.

“It was during this period that a list of priority roads in the state was compiled and recommended for consideration. It was during his tenure that the various Members of the Board were assigned specific sectors to review and submit their findings and recommendations,” Kharshiing informed.

He further saif that Marak will be remembered not only for his visionary leadership but also for being one of the few Chief Ministers who served a complete tenure a rare accomplishment during that time and brought stability in governance in the state.

“His contributions to the state and his gentle demeanor have left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” he concluded.

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