Villagers allege faulty design was prepared without site inspection; urge government to expedite construction under CMSDF
SHILLONG, October 17: Residents of Nongspung A village in Ri Bhoi district have sought Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma’s intervention to expedite the construction of a new school building promised during his visit on May 22, 2025, alleging serious flaws in the proposed design. In a complaint submitted on October 17, the villagers recalled that Sangma had assured them of a building under the Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund (CMSDF) in the presence of the local MLA and the Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi district. He had also signed a memorandum submitted by the village headman and handed it over to Education Department officials for necessary action. However, the villagers alleged that repeated representations to the Education Department and the Deputy Commissioner over the past year and five months failed to ensure timely progress. District School Education Officer T. Shangrang forwarded the budget proposal to the Deputy Commissioner on October 13, 2026, who subsequently forwarded it to the Chief Minister’s Office on October 14.
The villagers alleged that Ebrin, a civil engineer associated with the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in Ri Bhoi district, prepared the design without visiting the proposed construction site or adequately assessing the school’s requirements. According to the complaint, the proposed building’s dimensions appeared to exceed the available land, while the design seemed to accommodate only the Lower Primary section, although the existing building houses both Lower Primary and Upper Primary sections. The villagers have sought an inquiry into the preparation of the design, a written explanation from the concerned engineer and clarification on whether a physical inspection was conducted before the plan was finalised.
They have urged the government to revise the design in accordance with the actual dimensions of the school land and the requirements of students and teachers, with the village dorbar consulted before approval. The villagers stressed that correcting the alleged flaws must not cause further delays. “Our objection is specifically to an unsuitable design that does not adequately account for the actual site conditions,” the complaint stated, adding that they remained committed to ensuring proper implementation and lasting benefits for local children. The prolonged delay has caused concern among residents as Nongspung A aspires to become a Smart Model Village, with a modern and adequately equipped school building considered essential to improving educational opportunities for the next generation.
Copies of the complaint have been sent to Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun, Chief Secretary Dr Shakil P. Ahammed, Commissioner and Secretary of Education V. K. Mantri, Director of School Education Richa Kulkarni and District School Education Officer T. Shangrang. The villagers have appealed to the Chief Minister to translate his assurance into tangible progress through a technically sound building plan and the timely commencement of construction.
