Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 1106/17

VILLAGES UNDER GASUAPARA PS AND SIJU PS

For public convenience and better administration, the Government of Meghalaya has created two new Police Stations, viz., Gasuapara Police Station and Siju Police Station in South Garo Hills District. Upon creation of the new Police Stations, the areas coming under their jurisdiction shall cease to be under the Baghmara Police Station. This was informed by the Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Home (Police) Department. Villages falling under Gasuapara Police Station included Chengkali, Batabari, Jadugre, Ramchenga, Jatapara, Kolapara, Namchapara, Ramchenga-II, Ampangdam, Kajolgre, Doldamgre, Bilkona, Telikali, Dumnikura, Chawekchibandgre, Rengditgra, Genapara, Balmagre, Darikgre, Sawekolgre, Wagebokgre, Rongchongre, Darit Wachakchiring, Dari Watre Songgital, Darik Nilwasa, Darik Betagre, Darik Dolongre, Gungre, Rongsepgre, Kamdok, Rongsengre, Dindemigre, Rongrongre, Dakolgre, Rongbokgre, Memingre, Rongsigre, Meka Adugre, Mulmengre, Dagamdagre, Damal Nolkotgre, Mnengre, Damalgre, Norongkolgre, Gasuapara, Rongajora, Gobrakura, Karonggitim, Gandibol, Polirkona, Angratuli, Rakupara, Jatrakona, New Jatrakona, Gandugre, Makingsongmong, Making Nokat, Chilampara, Dimapara, Dangsubil, Sewalkosigre, Megua Songgital, Cherangpara, Atisia Nokat, Cherengkonagittim and Nagrajora. Villages falling under Siju Police Station are Siju Damik, Siju Tenkgittim, Siju Songgital, Siju Dobakol, Siju ASAK Banda, Siju Gangg, Siju Duramong, Siju, Siju Jadigindam, Siju Arateka, Siju Dapsi Gittim, Siju Nadri Rongdong, Siju Bolchugittim, New Duramong, Siju Walegettim, Siju Chamenggitim, Siju Monshugittim, Siju Songmong, Siju Dojonggittim, Siju PHE Colony, Rewak Songmong, Rewak Daburam, Rewak Rongmai, Rewak Choklokgittim, Rewak Malengma, Rewak Rongchekgre, Dogringgittim, Chondrosuk, Rongsu Agal, Rongsu Monbetgittim, Rongsu Banagittim, Rongsu Rongwak, Rongsu Rongrigittim, Tolegre, Balkal, Nengrugittim, Aruwakgre, Aruwak Nokatgre, Kimdang Awe, Rewak Rest Camp, Chigichakgre, Matamagisik, Jantagre, Ringrangre, Eman Watregittim, Emangre, Chibigre, Nengkong, Nengkong Madangre, Kurukol Ading, Rongdik, Mandalgotok, Nengrit, Dabalgre, Gongjagre.

Press Release No. 1107/17

3 DAY SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAMME INAUGURATED

Prof. R. C. Laloo, Deputy Chief Minister today inaugurated the 3 Day Specialized Training Programme on “Seismic Safety Assessment of Building in Rapid Visual Screening and Retrofitting” for Engineers, Architects and Town Planners of various State Departments at Shillong Club, Shillong. The programme was organized by the Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority (MSDMA) in collaboration with the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. The inaugural programme was also attended by Shri P. W. Ingty, Additional Chief Secretary in charge Revenue and Disaster Management, Shri H. B. Marak, Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, Smti I. Mawlong, Executive Director, SDMA, Prof. Chandan Ghosh and Dr. Amir Ali Khan from National Institute of Disaster Management among others. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Laloo said the State of Meghalaya has experienced several earthquakes in the past, being in the Zone V of the seismic map of India. Stating that the threat of earthquakes of big and small magnitudes always looms large, Prof. Laloo said that resilience building practices such as Rapid Visual Screening and Retrofitting has become the need of the hour. Prof. Laloo stressed the urgent need to assess the seismic vulnerability of buildings in urban areas of Meghalaya as an essential component of a comprehensive earthquake disaster risk management policy. Informing that the results from Rapid Visual Screening can be used for a variety of applications ranging from increasing awareness among city residents regarding seismic vulnerability of buildings to identifying simplified retrofitting requirements for vulnerable buildings, Prof. Laloo said that recent earthquakes have shown that many such buildings are seismically vulnerable and should be considered for retrofitting and different conventional as well as state of the art on seismic retrofitting techniques are available to increase the strength and or ductility of reinforced and un reinforced concrete structures. Hoping that the training will delve on the systems, policies and methodologies for RVS and seismic retrofitting of existing structures, Prof. Laloo said that this will help enhance the capacity of government officials. The resource persons for the training include Prof. Chandan Ghosh and Dr. Amir Ali Khan from NIDM, New Delhi, Dr. Devesh Walia, NEHU, Col. Gaurav Bhatia and guest faculties, scientists from NIT, Shilong, IMD, NEC and NEHU. The topics for 3 day training includes “Manipur Earthquake-2016: Response and Preparedness”, “Seismic Vulnerability of NE region”, Construction materials and quality checking in Shillong-discussion and opinion exercises”, “Consultation of RVS format for buildings in Shillong”, “Building performance vs. Structural safety assessment- case study”, “Fire/building safety auditing and compliance”, “Construction site visit in Shillong and Old and ongoing structures”, “RVS data collection and surveillance by web GIS”, “Development of city specific guideline for EQ, safe construction” and “Feedback on RVS for RCC buildings” to be followed by panel discussion.

Press Release No. 1109/17

CM LAYS BASE FOR 54 KM RONGJENG-MANGSANG-ADOKGRE ROAD

Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma laid the foundation stone for the construction of the 54 km long Rongjeng-Mangsang-Adokgre (RMA) Road including metalling & black-topping of intermediate lane under Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) in the presence of School Education & Literacy Minister Deborah C. Marak, Parliamentary Secretaries Cherak W. Momin and Sengnam Marak, MDC of Rambrai-Jyrngam K.S Marbaniang and East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Kumar at Mangsang on Tuesday. Addressing the huge gathering on the occasion, Dr. Sangma congratulated the people of the area and the neighbouring West Khasi Hills for getting this Rs.210 crore road project, adding that when this road is completed the people coming from outside region are expected to travel via Mangsang to Williamnagar and other parts of East Garo Hills. He implored upon the people on the need to provide land for construction of roads, urging upon them to preserve the age-old tradition of our forefathers who always set aside land for roads, catchment areas, etc. This project is one of the largest in the entire Garo Hills, he added.

The Chief Minister also took pride in stating that roads maintained by the State Highways are much better than the National Highways. He informed that there would be feeder roads in this Rongjeng-Mangsang-Adokgre Road connecting the nearby villages in Khasi Hills and expressed hope that this road would strengthen the bond of relationship between the Garos and Khasis living in the area. Dwelling on the number of developmental projects coming up in the state particularly in the education sector, the Chief Minister informed that the work for the first Engineering College in the State has already started at Mawlai, while the Vice Chancellor for the first State University has been appointed and classes would start from next year. “Let our children get the opportunity to study in their own state and this should be our common agenda” he said and urged upon the people to cooperate with the government so as to witness the better days ahead. He also informed that he is likely to inaugurate Rongjeng Administrative Unit before November 15, next. School Education & Literacy Minister Deborah.C Marak in her address stressed on the importance of roads and lauded the efforts of the Chief Minister in fulfilling the demands of the people of the area to construct the RMA road. Parliamentary Secretary in-charge PWD (Roads) Cherak W. Momin said that the Rongjeng-Mangsang-Adokgre Road project linking two constituencies namely Rongjeng and Kharkutta and NH37 is one of the largest for which the Chief Minister has given special attention and expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of the area. “Our cooperation with the government will bring more development to the region in particular and the state as a whole”, he added. Also speaking on the occasion, local MLA Sengnam Marak said that for more than 20 years people of Rongjeng, Mangsang and Adokgre area have been demanding construction of this road and fortunately due to the ceaseless efforts of the present government under the leadership of Dr. Mukul Sangma the long felt need of the people is being fulfilled. He expressed his deep sense of appreciation to the Chief Minister for his efforts to bring visible development in the area like the Administrative Unit at Rongjeng. “The RMA road project is the greatest gift of the Chief Minister to the people of the area” he said. Chief Engineer, PWD (Roads) L.D. Suchiang and E.E PWD (Roads) Williamnagar, Kamal G. Momin were among others who spoke on the occasion.