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Staff Reporter

Shillong, Oct 2: Meghalaya Speaker, Thomas A Sangma inaugurated the Plastic Waste Management Unit at Selbalgre Village under Rongram Community and Rural Development Block today in the presence of SDO (Sardar), West Garo Hills, Tura Manish Kumar, Block Development Officer, Rongram C & RD Block, Cherime Sangma, Vice-Chairman of Mawmluh Cherra Cements Limited (MCCL) and President NPYF Dabo Mrong Marak, SE, Ambrose D Sangma, officials of line departments and people of the area.

Along with the PWM Unit inauguration, Swachh Bharat Diwas was also celebrated during the event. It may be mentioned that this Plastic Waste Management Unit is the first of its kind installed in Garo Hills region.

Speaking on the occasion as Chief Guest, Thomas A Sangma reminded that the tribal villages are usually clean and that people maintains cleanliness around their surroundings, however, nowadays using plastics and going along with modern and readymade amenities easily available in the market, the environment is being polluted and is the need of the hour to take steps to prevent pollution in the area.

Mentioning that people also throw their waste haphazardly, he said that many problems were faced during segregation of waste by the workers and urged everyone to segregate biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste in their households.

He informed that the installation of this unit would help to collect, process and recycle plastic waste in a proper manner.

Further, he also highlighted that many different schemes to maintain cleanliness and personal hygiene are being implemented in the region such as the good practice of open defecation free and other sanitation schemes including waste segregation and proper disposal of solid and liquid waste, etc for the benefit of the people in the area. He then called upon everyone to inculcate good habits and make this earth livable for generations in future.

Delivering the keynote address SE, (PHE) cum Member Secretary, DSBMG, West Garo Hills, Tura Ambrose D Sangma informed that Swachhata Hi Sewa Campaign was launched on September 17, 2024 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Swachh Bharat Mission across the country organizing cleanliness drives, etc and the campaign culminates by observing Swachh Bharat Diwas on 2nd October, 2024.

He further mentioned that Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi had launched Swachh Bharat Mission on October 2, 2014 and added that the cleanliness drive is being conducted every year in the district and urged everyone to continue to maintain cleanliness in our everyday lives.

Manish kumar SDO (Sardar), West Garo Hills Tura, Block Development Officer, Rongram C & RD Block, Cherime Sangma, Vice-Chairman of Mawmluh Cherra Cements Limited (MCCL) and President NPYF Dabo Mrong Marak, District Coordinator, SBMG, Block Coordinator, SBMG, Selsella Block Debanan R Marak were among others who spoke during the occasion.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: Thomas A Sangma, the Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, chaired a review meeting and conducted an inspection of the ongoing construction of the new Assembly building at Mawdiangdiang today.

The inspection-cum-review meeting aimed to assess the progress and ensure the timely completion of the project. Dr Andrew Simons, Commissioner & Secretary of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, along with officials from various line departments and the Assembly Secretariat, were in attendance.

Commenting on the state of progress, the Speaker remarked, “Today we conducted a joint inspection of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly building to review the progress of the work. We find that the progress is good, though a little slow. Overall, the progress is very good; we are very satisfied."

A key focus of the meeting was ensuring that the building and its surroundings are in harmony with the natural environment. The Speaker stated, "I have called various departments, like the Forest Department and the Horticulture Department, to see that the entire premises of this complex are made as green as possible because we require the green area. We want to restore the green part as much as possible."

Furthermore, the Speaker directed the Arts and Culture Department to design the interiors, especially along the hallways, corridors, and reception areas.

"On the first floor, they will try to enact the story of Meghalaya in the reception area of the Legislative Assembly. And on the ground floor, they will try to depict the history of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly over the last 50-51 years."

Speaking about the construction's workforce, the Speaker mentioned earlier concerns about the shortage of workers but expressed satisfaction with recent improvements. "Earlier, the workforce was not up to the mark. There were very few people on the worksite, but now sufficient workforce is present, and more are coming. As you can see behind me, the dome sphere, which will cover the main assembly hall, is under construction. These kinds of tasks require special expertise and skilled workers, and half of them are already on the way, with more coming by today. From tomorrow or the day after, they can start working in full swing."

During the review, the Speaker acknowledged that while significant progress has been made, the construction is slightly behind schedule. Originally slated for completion by 30 September 2024, the Speaker noted, “I would love to have it as early as possible. The earlier timeline that was given was September 30, but as you can see, we are lagging behind that timeline. Maybe they will require one more month at the most.”

The meeting was deemed "very successful," with the Speaker commending the cooperation of various departments, particularly the PWD's building division. "They have been very active over the years to ensure that no more accidents happen and that the safety of the building is ensured," he said.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 13: Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma has asked the Public Works Department (Building) to speed up getting the approval of the new design for the dome of the new Assembly building at Mawdiangdiang.

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“I have already instructed and requested the PWD (Building) to expedite approval of the new design without which the work cannot start,” Sangma told reporters after conducting an inspection to the construction site today.

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Stating that the progress of work is satisfactory, the Speaker however said, “The middle portion which is the main chamber –where the dome had collapsed – that part is still not started, otherwise the left wing and the right wing (of the new Assembly building) are almost completed.”

“80 percent of the works are already completed but we can’t have an Assembly without the main chamber. There is a new design of the dome which has to be vetted and approved by two Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) – IIT Roorkee and IIT Guwahati. So we are waiting for their approval of the new design,” he said.

Sangma also informed that he is also in the process of reconstituting the High Powered Committee (HPC).

The dome of the under-construction new building of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly had collapsed on May 22, last year.

When asked, the Speaker said the implementing agencies have been asked to remove debris (caused by the dome collapsed) by April 15.

“That was the only deadline we have set today because without which the work cannot start and without the approval of the new design work cannot start. Only when the work starts then we can set a timeline (for completion of the new Assembly building),” he added.

On the allegations of corruption in the construction of the new Assembly, the Speaker said, “Such allegations of corruption have not come to his notice. If there is any I can assure you that my office will be very transparent in this regard and we will try our best not to have any kind of allegation…we will try to be transparent as much as possible.”

He assured by saying, “I would look into this but just based on somebody (allegation) or without any written complaint or without any proof or evidence, I cannot just go about kind of taking unnecessary things out in the open. I will certainly look into it but as I told you earlier it has not come to my notice yet but if it comes if I feel that there is some kind of misconduct or something unusual I will certainly look into it.”

Admitting that the Assembly has been functioning from a temporary building for several years, the Speaker said that he would like to see the new building of the Assembly completed during his time.

“I feel that I should be able to step into that new Assembly during my time. I don’t know there are so many things. This is the only first phase. There will be a second phase which will include the staff quarters, the minister's quarters, speaker’s residential quarter, MLA hostels, hospital, school,” he said while informing that they have decided to push the government to also start the second phase simultaneously side by side.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 13: The budget session of the eleventh Meghalaya Legislative Assembly will be held from March 20 to March 28.

The calendar for the upcoming session was approved during a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) chaired by the Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma here today.

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The meeting was attended by deputy chief minister in-charge parliamentary affairs Prestone Tynsong, former minister Lahkmen Rymbui and opposition members – Charles Pyngrope of the AITC and Dr Celestine Lyngdoh of the Congress.

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“We decided to have a full budget session starting from March 20 till March 28,” Sangma told reporters.

“Since it is the financial year ending month so our officials and the government need to clear all the pending financial issues so we decided to end the budget session on March 28 so that March 29 to 31 will be available for the officials in the secretariat and districts to clear the financial dues,” he added.

He said there will be seven working days of which government business has been allotted for five days while for private members’ business for two days.

Sangma also informed that the election of the Deputy Speaker will be held on March 20.

“We are giving notification from tomorrow so that intending candidates can file their nominations and we will have the election on the first day of the budget session,” he said.

The Speaker said, “It is up to them (opposition parties). If they file the nomination everyone is welcome. But if they don’t file, of course like me, the deputy speaker will also be elected unopposed.”

When asked, Sangma said, “It is five days for government business. It is at the discretion of the Speaker so I may extend the time. I have sat in parliament where discussion went till midnight 12 am so if not till midnight but will have till late evening if necessary if required.”

Meanwhile, the Speaker informed that he has received applications from the Congress and All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) requesting for his recognition while the Voice of the People Party has not submitted any kind of indication to be part of the opposition bench.

“The office is examining the matter,” he said while adding that the Congress and AITC are seeking recognition as separate entities and not as a Forum.

Meghalaya Times

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