Meghalaya has received an allocation of ₹405.64 crore for the year 2024–25 under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Public Health Engineering Minister Marcuise N. Marak informed the state Assembly on Thursday. The funds, sanctioned by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, are expected to accelerate ongoing projects to provide functional household tap connections across the state. However, Marak noted that the release of funds for 2025–26 is still pending, creating uncertainty for future projects. The minister also drew attention to the pending bills under JJM, which stand at ₹695.01 crore as of August 31, 2025. These bills, owed to contractors working on water supply projects, are yet to be cleared by the Centre. The delay has raised concerns about the pace of project implementation and the financial strain on contractors.
On the education front, Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma updated the House on the state’s engineering colleges. He reported that Ampati Engineering College has achieved 25 percent physical progress, with ₹15 crore already spent. He assured that both the Ampati and Shillong engineering colleges would be completed “on a war footing.”The update followed questions from the Opposition. Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma urged the government to speed up construction and expressed disappointment over not being invited to the inauguration of Shillong Engineering College, the state’s first such institution. “I am a little bit aggrieved. I requested the government to please invite all of us so that we can share the joy of the initiative,” he said. Ampati MLA Miani D. Shira also flagged the issue of poor connectivity, pointing out the absence of a permanent approach road to the new campus. Minister Rakkam A. Sangma admitted that only a temporary road is in place, which is often washed away during monsoons, but promised that a lasting solution will be taken up.
Responding to the debate, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma clarified that while classes have already started at Shillong Engineering College, the inauguration was held without AICTE approval, which was pending at the time. “We will do a proper programme. It is a proud moment for the state, and we will ensure everyone is invited,” he said. Interestingly, Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma also revealed that he was not present at the initial event.