Williamnagar, Oct,29: East Garo Hills on Thursday celebrated its Golden Jubilee with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announcing a major development push for Williamnagar, marking 50 years of the district headquarters.
Attending the main celebration at Rongrenggre Government Higher Secondary School, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 53 crore, spanning education, sports, road connectivity and housing.
The programme was attended by PHE Minister and Williamnagar MLA Marcuise N Marak, Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, MDCs, Nokmas, religious leaders, teachers and students.
In his address, Sangma said the Golden Jubilee is a moment to connect Williamnagar’s 50-year journey with its next phase of growth. He recalled the contribution of Captain Williamson A Sangma, after whom the town is named, along with leaders like Choronsing A Sangma, Lolith R Sangma and Rev M Marak in the creation of the district. He also expressed gratitude to Nokmas including Tiren Sangma, Chingban Sangma, Asin Marak, Dingnang Sangma and Mison Sangma for donating ancestral land for government offices.
“Education will strengthen human capacity, sports infrastructure will support youth development, roads and bridges will improve movement and housing will contribute to planned urban growth,” the Chief Minister said.
Earlier in the day, Sangma inaugurated new facilities at Williamnagar Higher Secondary School and inspected the ongoing construction of the Rs 9.40 crore Multi-Purpose Indoor Sports Hall, where he interacted with local sportspersons.
Among the key projects inaugurated were upgradation of 13.989 km of internal roads in Williamnagar town at a cost of Rs 26.92 crore under the World Bank funded MITP, widening of Rongrenggre-Simsanggre-Nengkhra Road from 10th to 16th km at Rs 15.98 crore, 4.40 km of interlocking concrete block roads at Rs 4.70 crore, and the Rongongre Bridge.
He also laid the foundation stone for MIG housing with 8 units at Williamnagar worth Rs 3.61 crore and for the Commandant’s Office Building of the 5th Battalion, Meghalaya Police at Samanda worth Rs 2.63 crore.
On the occasion, former MLAs, MDCs, prominent citizens and Nokmas were felicitated. Certificates under MSSDS were distributed to District Prison and Correctional Home inmates trained under the CM Skills Mission and to SHG trainees of Kusim Rongmitel trained in wood carving, along with startup tools and MOTHER Kits under the CM Safe Motherhood Scheme.
Williamnagar’s history dates back to January 26, 1972, when Simsanggre Civil Sub-Division was established. It was upgraded to East Garo Hills district with Williamnagar as headquarters in October 1976.
