Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today inaugurated the newly constructed Jengjal Police Station building at Jengjal, West Garo Hills.The programme was also attended by Idashisha Nongrang, IPS, Director General of Police, Meghalaya; Abraham T. Sangma, IPS, Superintendent of Police, West Garo Hills; J.F.K. Marak, IPS, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Western Range); Vibhor Aggarwal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills; James K. Sangma, Chairman, MIDC; senior government officials, police personnel and members of the community. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma, said that the Jengjal Police Station is one of the best police stations in the state which is located in a very strategic and ideal location making it accessible and convenient not only for the people but also for the police personnel in swift and efficient discharge of their duties and also expressed gratitude to the Nokma and the people of the area who have donated land for the construction of the police station. “This police station has been built in conformity to the norms laid down by the government of India and we will ensure that all police stations across the state will be upgraded, renovated or constructed according to the norms bringing in uniformity in all police stations,” he said.
He also informed that earlier renovating or repairing police stations was a cumbersome and a lengthy process as police stations required state government sanction even for minor works like painting. “Now with the Police Infrastructure Renovation Fund, the SPs can take up renovation and repairing of police stations without waiting for the sanction of the state government,” he said. He also informed that with the Police Infrastructure Renovation Fund many police stations have already been repaired or renovated. The Chief Minister also informed that vacancies in the police department are gradually being filled up. “Process for filling up of more than 3000 vacancies has already started and is in the last stage of recruitment that is the personal interview. This is perhaps one of the largest recruitments in the history of the state,” he said and added that with this recruitment the shortage of manpower will be resolved.Talking about Jengjal as a very important place for Garo Hills, he highlighted some of the developments projects for Jengjal. “We have handed over the Jengjal Airport to the Airport Authority of India earlier this year and they have submitted Rs 50 Cr estimate to the state government.
I am happy to announce here that within this month the government will sanction Rs 50 Cr to Airport Authority of India so that works can start at the Jengjal Airport,” he said. He also informed that with the completion of the airport, 19 seater planes of Air Alliance will be operating from Jengjal Airport with the first priority being on Shillong-Tura flights. He also said that government is scouting for land in Jengjal for a permanent site to host mega events. Acknowledging the critical role of the police department in not only maintaining law and order but in ensuring long term peace and development, the Chief Minister assured of all support to the department. “I am happy to learn through the review meetings that I have had that so much work is being done and there is a continuous interaction between the government and the department,” he said. He also informed that the government through the police department is working towards having different technologies in managing cyber related activities, maintaining law and order and survellience that will bring the state at par with many other states thus continuing to bring transformative changes in the department.