SHILLONG : Three polytechnic colleges in Meghalaya, sanctioned 16 years ago in 2009, are yet to become functional, prompting the Assembly’s Estimate Committee to seek an urgent update from the Education Department on the long-pending projects.
The committee, headed by Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem, on Monday reviewed the status of the three polytechnics located at Nongkrah in Ri-Bhoi district, Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills and Gasuapara in South Garo Hills.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Syiem said the committee reviewed both the physical and financial progress of the projects with officials of the Education Department.
“These projects were sanctioned in 2009 by the then Union Ministry of Human Resource Development,” he said.
According to Syiem, although funds have been released, work on the three projects has progressed slowly, with only the administrative block and some classrooms completed in the initial stages.
He said the polytechnic projects at Nongpoh and Nongstoin are now nearing completion, with the buildings expected to be handed over by the PWD (Building) to the Education Department.
“After the buildings are handed over, the department will have to arrange water supply, power supply and creation of posts. The matter has been taken up with the Planning and Finance departments,” Syiem said.
The situation at Gasuapara, however, remains a concern, with only around 64 to 65 per cent of the civil work completed so far.
“We have asked the department to expedite the work in the interest of students,” Syiem said.
On the prolonged delay, the committee chairman said the department had cited land-related issues during the initial stage of the projects.
Syiem stressed that the projects involve public funds and should therefore be completed without further unnecessary delay.
“Public money has been earmarked for this purpose and the work must be completed in due course of time, at the earliest,” he said.