The demand to ensure that a Central Agriculture University (CAU) is established in Meghalaya, Mawphlang MLA S.K. Sun has written a letter to chief minister Conrad K. Sangma requesting the Meghalaya government to take up the matter seriously with the Centre.
Sun is an Independent MLA who represents the Mawphlang Assembly constituency.
The MLA reminded the government that the issue has been raised by him during the budget session of the state Assembly last year expressed doubts that the proposal for establishment of CAU for Meghalaya may have been withdrawn.
Sun said he had pointed out that the ongoing works at Kyrdemkulai in Ri-Bhoi district may be that of the CAU, Imphal.
“The Agriculture Minister in his reply, however, removed the doubts expressed by me on the floor of the House, and confirmed that ongoing works at Kyrdemkulai are for establishment of the new CAU in Meghalaya,” he said.
In May last year, Sun had also written a letter to the minister in-charge agriculture, Banteidor Lyngdoh, expressing doubts about the statement made by Banteidor since as per information gathered by Sun, the College at Kyrdemkulai and Post Graduate College at Umïam (Barapani) function under the CAU, Imphal, and no one knows about the fate of CAU, Meghalaya.
The MLA from Mawphlang also mentioned about reports related to the setting up of the College of Agriculture at Kyrdemkulai, which is under construction.
“It appears that there has been serious communication gap that led to the confusion as stated in the House by the minister in April last year that works for establishment of the new CAU in Meghalaya are in progress,” Sun said.
At present the College of Agriculture at Kyrdemkulai in Ri-Bhoi district is being established under the CAU, Imphal, whereas the proposal to establish the CAU is yet to materialise.
Sun informed that on February 3, 2010, the central government through the ministry of agriculture and Department of Agriculture Research & Education (DARE), had constituted a four- member committee headed by the vice-chancellor of CAU, Imphal, Dr S.N. Pari for selection of site for the establishment of the new CAU in Meghalaya.