Shillong, Jan 7: Chief Secretary DP Wahlang on Tuesday replied to many a query of a group of journalists, who actually wanted to convey New Year greetings to him.
Though the slip sent by the journalists was only to greet him, the chief secretary was ready to answer to the issues concerning the state without any hesitation.
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This is for the first time during his tenure that the chief secretary is talking elaborately on issues at his office chamber.
He will have less than a year before retirement.
Issues answered by CS
NEHU imbroglio
Wahlang will meet the secretary and additional secretary in-charge higher education, government of India on January 13, for resolving the issue related to the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU).
“I am in touch with the secretary, government of India as well as the additional secretary. In fact, I will be meeting the secretary on January 13 to give him a brief of what happened as he just joined as the secretary of higher education. I will be meeting him and also advise him on what needs to be done for NEHU and I hope we should see a breakthrough soon”, he said.
Harijan Colony
The state government is awaiting response of the defence ministry on the request to allocate 2 acres of land for relocation of 342 families of the Harijan Colony from Them Iew Mawlong.
“The ball is in the court of the defence ministry. So we expect them to give response as quickly as they can and we are just waiting for them to communicate back to us.”
He said the state government had urged the Centre to allot land in the vicinity of Mawlonghat, which belongs to the Army.
No evidence on coal mining
He said the regional committees may take time to submit their reports on the remaining six areas of difference due to upcoming elections to the autonomous district councils (ADCs) in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills region.
“We have the committees but for the phase II, we have got extension till March 31 and we are hoping that the reports will be submitted by then”, he said.
No adverse reports from border
There has been no adverse reports received along the international border with Bangladesh during the last two-three months.
Wahlang said, “We have not had any problems in the border areas, in the last two-three months. We have not received any adverse reports at all from the border and we are hoping that it will continue.”
“The BSF is keeping a very strong vigil along the border along with the help of the Meghalaya police and we are keeping a tap of what is going on”, he added.
