Tura, February 27: Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma inaugurated the new Chokpot Civil Sub-Division amidst much fanfare and jubilation at an impressive function held at Warima playground, Chokpot in South Garo Hills on Monday.
The momentous occasion was also attended by Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh, Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Zenith Sangma, Government Chief Whip, W.D. Sangma, Parliamentary Secretaries Cherak W. Momin, Noverfield R. Marak, Brigady N. Marak, Limison Sangma, Samuel Sangma Michael T. Sangma and Sengnam Marak, local MLA & Chairperson, MSTDRC Bluebell Sangma, Mahendraganj Legislator Dikkanchi D. Shira, Chief Secretary K. S. Kropha, Addl.Chief Secretary & Commissioner of Divisions for Garo Hills Peter W. Ingty and Commissioner & Secretary, Home, E.P Kharbhih among hosts of other leaders, officials of the District Administration and thousands of people from the area.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also unveiled the foundation stone for construction Farmer’s Market at Chokpot and launched the new and renewable energy under MNREDA and distributed solar lamps to class IX & X students of the district. He also distributed cheques as incentives to farmers of the district who have taken up agar and bamboo plantation.
Of the four new civil sub-divisions announced by the State government Chokpot is the second to be inaugurated this month. The proposal for creation was submitted in June and identification of land was made in July last year. The Civil Sub-Division covers an area of 441 sq.km having 307 villages and a total population of 40,485 people. It has one C&RD block, one police station, one outpost, one CHC, one PHC and 5 sub-centres. It will be getting two additional police stations – one at Sangknigre and the other Silkigre. The land measuring 23.57 hectare for the new civil sub-division complex was donated free of cost by Nokma of Warima Migen M. Sangma.
In his inaugural address, the Chief Minister expressed his elation to be able share in the joy of the people in this momentous occasion and said that the government has been able to create enabling environment and respond to the aspirations and expectations of the people through its various development initiatives. “This has generated more hope and aspirations among the people”, he added.
With the creation of this new civil sub-division, offices of various line departments will be coming up soon, the Chief Minister said and urged upon the people to take advantage of these offices for the benefit of the area. According to him, the new districts, civil sub-divisions and C&RD blocks were created to make the area of administration smaller to enable the officers to give focused attention to the needs of the people.
“When new districts and civil sub-divisions are created opportunity is created for everybody. Let’s do justice to this opportunity and move forward with positive attitude” he said.
Speaking of various developmental projects in the state, including the national and state highways being funded by JICA, the Chief Minister also informed the people that sanction would soon be given for construction of road from Chokpot to Sibbari, the nearest connecting link to Baghmara the district headquarters.
Chief Secretary K.S.Kropha in his brief address said that developmental programmes and schemes do not reach the nooks and corners of the state and therefore the administrative set up should be as close to the people as possible and commended the government for taking such a courageous step of creating new civil sub-divisions and C&RD blocks despite the implications that follow. “This achievement should not be seen as an end but the beginning or harbinger of change and development. This new civil sub-division should play a critical role in ushering that change” he added.
Commissioner & Secretary, Home E.P.Kharbhih read out the notification declaring the new civil sub-division with Chokpot as its headquarters “for convenience and better administration” and handed it over to the SDO (Civil) in-charge Z. J. Sangma.
