SHILLONG, Sept 7: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Monday laid the foundation stone for five projects worth over Rs 1,000 crore in Meghalaya, including the Rs 850.58-crore Phase II of the New Shillong Water Supply Scheme. Radhakrishnan laid the foundation at a public reception organised in his honour at the Soso Tham Auditorium here. The other projects include two road connectivity programmes under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), a 30-bed AYUSH facility at Shillong Civil Hospital and a 132/33 KV substation at Mawkhanu under the Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE). The New Shillong Water Supply Scheme Phase II, Part A, is being implemented under the Urban Challenge Fund and entails an estimated cost of Rs 850.58 crore.
Addressing the gathering, Radhakrishnan highlighted Meghalaya's rich cultural heritage, natural beauty and unique social institutions, including its matrilineal heritage. He said the state's vibrant grassroots institutions reflect India's diversity and democratic traditions. The VP also witnessed cultural performances representing Meghalaya's three major tribes - Khasi, Garo and Jaintia - along with a choir performance by the KHMIH Society, showcasing the state's rich cultural heritage.
Radhakrishnan is on a two-day visit to the state. Welcoming the vice president on his first visit to Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said it would strengthen ties between the state, its people and the Centre.
"Your visit today will remain a historic occasion for us. It makes us feel that we are important," Sangma said.
"In the last eight years, with the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, not just Meghalaya but the entire northeast has transformed," the CM said. Sangma said the state, once among the lowest-ranked in several development indicators, had changed significantly through sustained efforts, long-term planning, teamwork and contributions from the youth, self-help groups and farmers.
"Today, Meghalaya is one of the fastest-growing states in the country economically, recording growth of nearly 12.8 per cent, something that would have been unimaginable 10 years ago," he asserted. |
