Ampati, February 6: The Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma inaugurated two recently constructed suspension footbridges over Daru River near Ampati under in the presence of Government Chief Whip W.D. Sangma, local MDC of Betasing Nripen Koch, Deputy Commissioner, C.V.D. Diengdoh, Superintendent of Police, Ramesh Singh, officials of the Border Areas Development department, other district officials and local leaders and the people of the area on Monday afternoon.
The construction of 110 metre-long suspension footbridge at Anangpara, and another measuring 80 m in length at Menggongpara, was sponsored under Social Infrastructure Development Fund (SIDF) 2012-2013 by Union Ministry of DoNER through the Border Area Development department and were completed in a record time of six months. These footbridges are expected to provide easy connectivity to the people of these two villages who otherwise had to walk a long distance or cross the river to reach the main road leading to the district headquarters. The construction of these bridges has shortened the distance by at least 14 km.
Dedicating the footbridges to the people of the area at an impressive function at Bandalkona, the Chief Minister expressed his happiness to be able to share the joy of the people on the occasion and said that there were more such developmental projects that need to be inaugurated and dedicated to the people. “There are visible signs of development across the State and this is the reason for the people to have more aspirations and expectations, therefore the Government is bound to respond to the needs and aspirations of the people,” he said. He however said that the people too must be willing to take collective responsibility and understand the process of development. “Whenever the Government is not able to respond to the demands of the people let it be understood that there are constraints”.
Speaking about Human Capital Development project being taken up in the State not only for building infrastructure, but also for empowering the teachers and children, he stressed the need to put in place effective system to ensure that the schools and colleges of the State are the best. He also emphasized that in order to effectively respond to the challenges of governance one must be receptive to continuous learning.
The Chief Minister also placed on record his Government’s gratitude to the President of India Pranab Mukherjee, who during his tenure as the Union Finance Minister had granted a special package known as SIDF through DoNER. He, however, said that remaining Rs. 22 crore is yet to be sanctioned which would have been used for construction of parallel road from Dalu to Baghmara along the Indo-Bangla border, adding that he has already raised the issue with the Union Minister of State for DoNER Dr. Jitendra Singh.
Earlier, Government Chief Whip & Legislator of Salmanpara, W.D.Sangma in his brief address urged upon the people of the area to take ownership of the assets that have been dedicated to them and also called for more support and cooperation from the people so as to ensure that they can expect more of such developmental projects in the future.
Deputy Commissioner C.V.D. Diengdoh, Assistant Director, Border Area Development, E.G.R. Marak and BADO, Ampati, S.P.Marak were among others who also spoke on the occasion. According to E.G.R, Marak, 14 suspension footbridges including a jeepable RCC bridge have been constructed in Garo Hills under SIDF sanctioned in 2012-2013.
