CM launches water harvesting project, girls’ hostel at Mendipathar; tribal hostel at Resubelpara
Shillong, May 26: Strengthening further Meghalaya’s resolve to build a climate-resilient society, chief minister Conrad Sangma on Monday launched a water harvesting project “Megh Adapt Pay” at Mendipathar in North Garo Hills and also two newly constructed hostels – Girls’ Hostel at Mendipathar and Tribal Hostel at Resubelpara.
Under Megh Adapt Pay, a massive Rs 500-crore Climate Adaptive Community-Based Water Harvesting Project aided by Asian Development Bank (ADB), water harvesting projects will be launched in all districts of to enhance water resilience and sustainability, the chief minister said.
The Rs 47.19-crore project launched at Mendipathar is part of the ADB-aided project for afforestation, conservation of existing forests and agricultural land development implemented by Soil and Water Conservation department.
Through the project, he said, the community and government will forge a partnership to help protect forests, restore degraded lands, improve ecosystem health, rehabilitate degraded catchment area, and expanding green cover across the state.
Meanwhile, the Girls’ Hostel at Mendipathar College built with Rs 3 crore will operate on a not-for-profit model and will be managed by the Awe Self-Help Group (SHG) while the Tribal Girls’ Hostel at Resubelpara, built with Rs 2.5 crore, will be managed by Ramke Memorial School.
“These hostels will provide a safe, secure, and supportive living environment for girls, especially those from remote areas, and will help them pursue their education without barriers,” the chief minister said.
The chief minister also took the opportunity to express satisfaction over increased pass percentage in SSLC exam and informed that the supplementary exam result has increased the percentage further to 96 per cent, which is highest in North East and probably the best in the country.
Lamenting a “wrong impression” given by many on “CM Impact” guidebook, he urged the naysayers to rather ask the students and parents. He pointed out that students had been using guidebooks for SSLC and other exams all along, and CM Impact is an intervention to support students who don’t have access to such guidebooks.
“I am extremely satisfied that our children have managed to pass SSLC exam. The guidebook has helped them immensely. I congratulate the students who passed the exam,” he added.
He was accompanied by PHE minister Marcuise Marak and social welfare minister Paul Lyngdoh and MLAs Marthon Sangma and Rupert Momin.
