Shillong, Mar 4: Chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday said the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) is a very important scheme for international border areas and that he would further take up with the Centre the need for its resumption in the state.
The Union Home Ministry that discontinued the programme in 2022 end is going to review it, the chief minister said in reply to a question raised during assembly session on Tuesday.
The state used to receive around Rs 40-50 crore in the past few years under BADP, he said while replying to the motion moved by UDP legislator from Nongpoh, Mayral Born Syiem.
“The home minister through a letter informed that BADP will be continued only till September 30, 2022 as the programme is set to be reviewed by the ministry,” the chief minister said.
The state government has been pursuing the matter with the Centre, but yet to get any confirmation about resumption of the scheme, he added.
Sangma also assured that he would take up with the government of India to ensure Meghalaya is also included in the Vibrant Village programme for the benefit of the people living in the border areas.
Meanwhile, the chief minister informed that the border haats have started reopening in most parts of the state.
“There is no reason for border haats not to be opening. (Following the incident in Bangladesh) Slowly, normalcy is returning and deputy commissioners concerned have been given instruction to facilitate reopening of border haats,” he said while assuring to provide overall development to the border areas in the state.
