Shillong: Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma inspected the ongoing development works of Captain Williamson Sangma State University at the university campus in Balalgre on Friday (May 2).
The Minister was accompanied by Subir Marak, MLA of Rangsakona Assembly Constituency, and H. M. Shangpliang, Adviser to the Government of Meghalaya, Education Department.
During the visit, the state Education Minister reviewed the progress of various amenities and utilities being developed at the campus, in the presence of officials from the Education Department as well as engineers and officers from the line departments of PHE, PWD (R&B), Power, and BSNL.
The construction works under the PHE Department are yet to commence. A borewell, along with a treatment plant and other associated infrastructure, is expected to be completed within a year.
In the interim, a temporary water supply system is being explored. A natural spring located within the campus is being evaluated by the Executive Engineer, who has been directed to prepare an estimate at the earliest.
The temporary water connection is expected to be completed within two months, ahead of the commencement of the academic session in August 2025.
At present, the campus is operating on a temporary generator-based power supply. Although Rs 44 lakh has already been sanctioned for electrification, work has not yet started.
Departmental officials assured that electrification can be completed within one month of receiving the sanctioned amount.
The Education Minister directed the department to initiate the work immediately. It was also noted that a 5% cost escalation is anticipated due to the time elapsed since the original estimate was submitted.
The boundary wall has been completed for the originally acquired 90 bighas of land. However, approximately 50–60 bighas remain outside the boundary.
Based on the university’s requirements for either a temporary or permanent boundary wall, the department will provide an appropriate estimate. Additionally, estimates for the construction of all internal roads within the campus will be prepared accordingly.
The BSNL officer present informed that underground fibre has already been laid up to Garobadha. Additional facilities such as routers, hotspots, firewalls, and cybersecurity infrastructure will also be installed. All works are expected to be completed within one month following the release of sanctioned funds.
As the land was originally acquired for establishing a medical college and due to the passage of time, there are discrepancies with the documentation. The Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of West Garo Hills has been tasked to verify and update the records.
The local MLA played a key role in facilitating a land survey with support from villagers from whom the land was acquired. The survey revealed that the total land area under the university spans approximately 285 bighas.
The Registrar highlighted that the building for the proposed College of Architecture and Urban Planning has been completed but is currently unutilised.
Since approvals from the Council of Architecture and AICTE are still pending, a request was made to bring the building under the university’s ambit for temporary use as a Science Block, which the university intends to operationalize from next year.
The Adviser to the state government proposed the formation of a Coordination Committee, chaired by D. D. Sangma, Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Education Department.
Members will include representatives from the Deputy Commissioners of West Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills, as well as representatives from key line departments, including PWD (R&B), PHE, Power, and BSNL.
Given the scale and scope of the university project, the local MLA recommended the development of a comprehensive Master Plan to enable phased and planned execution of construction and development works.
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The Registrar supported the suggestion, noting that the university is actively considering and will be inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) shortly.
