Sangma rules out Meghalaya's bifurcation

Ruling out any bifurcation of Meghalaya, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma Thursday said further division of the state would increase the social and economic vulnerability of the people.

"Further division of the state would place even more constraints on our resources. The developmental process will further suffer. For the viability of a state, a certain mass in terms of area and population becomes necessary," Sangma said in his reply to a resolution in the assembly seeking creation of a separate Garoland state.

Lone Garo National Council (GNC) legislator Clifford R Marak, who moved the resolution for a separate state in Garo Hills, said the demand was raised due to lack of economic development and also due to linguistic barriers with the Khasi-Jaintia tribes inhabiting eastern Meghalaya.

"If the state government is willing, they can take up the issue with the centre and help us to achieve our goal for creation of a Garoland state," said Marak.

He later withdrew his resolution after Sangma promising to ensure that fruits of growth and development get distributed in an equitable manner.

Stating that the Garo Hills region has witnessed significant improvement in its socio-economic profile since the emergence of Meghalaya, the chief minister noted the region sends a decisive presence of 24 members in the 60-member Assembly, besides having its own autonomous district council.