Shillong, Oct 17: Residents of Nongspung A village in Ri Bhoi district have sought the immediate intervention of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma to expedite the construction of a new school building promised during his visit to the village on May 22, 2025, while raising serious concerns over the proposed building design.
In a formal complaint submitted to the Chief Minister on October 17, the villagers recalled that Sangma had assured them of a new school building under the Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund (CMSDF) in the presence of the villagers, the local MLA and the Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi district. The Chief Minister had also signed a memorandum submitted by the village headman and handed it over to Education Department officials for necessary action.
However, the villagers alleged that despite repeated representations to the Education Department and the Deputy Commissioner over the past one year and five months, the proposal took considerable time to move forward.
According to the complaint, District School Education Officer T. Shangrang forwarded the budget proposal for the proposed school building to the Deputy Commissioner on October 13, 2026. The Deputy Commissioner subsequently forwarded it to the Chief Minister’s Office on October 14.
The villagers, however, have now raised objections to the proposed design, alleging that it was prepared by Bah Ebrin, a civil engineer associated with the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in Ri Bhoi district, without visiting the proposed construction site or adequately assessing the school’s actual requirements.
The complaint stated that the dimensions of the proposed building appeared to exceed the total land area available to the school. It also pointed out that the proposed design appeared to accommodate only the Lower Primary section, whereas the existing school building houses both the Lower Primary and Upper Primary sections.
The villagers have urged the government to conduct an inquiry into the preparation of the design, seek a written explanation from the concerned engineer and establish whether a physical inspection of the site was conducted before the plan was finalised.
They have also called for the design to be reviewed and corrected in accordance with the actual dimensions of the school land and the requirements of students and teachers. The village dorbar, they said, should be consulted before the final plan is approved.
While demanding accountability over the alleged design flaws, the villagers stressed that the correction process should not result in further delays to the project.
“Our objection is specifically to an unsuitable design that does not adequately account for the actual site conditions,” the complaint stated, emphasising that the villagers remained committed to ensuring the project was implemented properly and delivered lasting benefits to local children.
The prolonged delay has caused considerable concern among residents, particularly as Nongspung A is aspiring to transform itself into a Smart Model Village. The villagers believe that a modern and adequately equipped school building is essential to improving educational opportunities and securing a better future for the next generation.
The complaint has also been copied to Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun, Chief Secretary Dr Shakil P. Ahammed, Commissioner and Secretary of Education V. K. Mantri, Director of School Education Richa Kulkarni and District School Education Officer T. Shangrang.
The villagers have appealed to the Chief Minister to ensure that his assurance is translated into tangible progress, with a technically sound building plan and a timely start to construction.
