Tura, July 30: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today inaugurated Garo Hills biggest industrial project and North-East largest bottling plant at Mendipathar, marking a significant step towards economic transformation and fulfilling his late father P A Sangma’s vision who had long envisioned Mendipathar to be the growth engine for the Garo Hills.
The state-of-the-art facility, set up by Varun Beverages Limited for world famous PepsiCo company, has come up at the Mendipathar Industrial Area, spanning 37 acres with an investment of INR 340 Crore. This industrial unit is expected to elevate Mendipathar as a hub of industrial and economic activity, giving a major boost to not just the local economy but provide much needed employment for the youth, and simultaneously fulfilling a decades-old vision for Garo Hills.
Hailing the project as a “blessing” for Meghalaya, in terms of its potential to create jobs and stimulate economic growth, the chief minister said, “This is a symbol of the economic progress Meghalaya is achieving. Nobody could have imagined that the largest bottling plant in the Northeast would be here in Mendipathar.”
With the plant expected to employ nearly 500 people for the production and distribution of PepsiCo products, including fruit-based juices, Conrad Sangma highlighted the ripple effect that the facility will have, noting that it will spur ancillary opportunities for the people of Mendipathar and adjoining areas, such as providing local accommodation, retail, and other businesses to cater to the plant’s workforce, including senior managers. “This will lead to a boom in economic activities, and our youth will find new opportunities,” he added.
The Chief Minister also reflected on the long-delayed vision for Mendipathar, conceptualized as an industrial hub in the 1990s but left undeveloped for over three decades. Paying tribute to his late father, P.A. Sangma, who had over 30 long years ago envisioned Mendipathar as a growth engine for Garo Hills, he said, “Late P A Sangma was upset that no industries were coming up here. Today marks the fulfillment of his dream for Mendipathar and Meghalaya.”
Acknowledging the community’s contribution, the chief minister expressed his gratitude to the Nokma and citizens of Mendipathar for donating land for the industrial area 30 years ago. “After a long wait, this factory is a reality, and I assure you that the commitments made in 1990 will be fulfilled,” he pledged.
Looking ahead, the chief minister announced another upcoming major industrial project in the Tikrikilla-Bajengdoba area of Garo Hills, where 90% of the work has already been completed and is on the verge of being operational within the next two to three months. “This is the change and economic transformation we are witnessing,” he said.
The Chief Minister extended his gratitude to Varun Beverages Limited Chairman Ravikant Jaipuria and Varun Jaipuria for their vision and commitment. He praised Ravikant Jaipuria’s dedication, noting that the project, initially targeted for completion in nine months, was finished in 11 months—an achievement Jaipuria considered a delay. “Ravikant ji is a dynamic leader with operations across Asia and Africa, and his commitment to timely execution is inspiring,” Sangma remarked.
The inaugural event was attended by Deputy Speaker Timothy D. Shira, Power Minister A.T. Mondal, PHE Minister Marcuise Marak, MIDC Chairman James K. Sangma, and several other MLAs.
