It was a hectic day for Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in Garo Hills on Monday.

Starting his day, the Chief Minister inspected ongoing construction work of the Ganol Hydel Project along with two MLAs —Thomas Sangma, Ferlene C.A. Sangma and officials of the power department.

The work for the 22.5 MW project started in 2014 and the Chief Minister is optimistic that the project will be commissioned in December 2020. It will greatly benefit the power deficit state, he said.

The second engagement for Conrad K. Sangma was at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Tura. He inaugurated the Zila Sainik Welfare office. The new office will now look after the welfare of ex-servicemen, war widows and their dependants of the five districts of Garo Hills.

The Chief Minister also visited the site of the Tribal Research Institute (TRI) near Babadam in the outskirts of Tura. The project is being funded by the Central government at Rs 41 crore.

A tribal museum and library of the District Council is also being constructed near the TRI. A Tribal University is also proposed to be constructed adjacent to it in the near future.

The Chief Minister held a review of the health care services in Garo Hills in the presence of Meghalaya Health Minister A.L. Hek. He told the officials of the Health Department to develop proper infrastructure for better healthcare services in the Garo hills.

Sangma instructed the Health Department officials to streamline the distribution of medicines to different health centres – Hospitals, CHCs, PHCs and Sub-Centre, so that medicines are available in right quantity to cater to the needs of poor patients.

“Improving rural health care infrastructure will be our priority and we will make adequate investments to improve health care services,” Sangma said while seeking suggestions from officials of the Health Department to improve healthcare facilities in the area.

The Chief Minister later interacted with the Self Help Groups (SHGs) of Garo hills at SMELC Conference Hall at Dakopgre in Tura. The programme was organised by National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).

Stating that Meghalaya is a rural economy, Sangma said to promote the rural economy there is a need to focus on the people living in villages and thereby upscale the economic condition of the people of the region.

In the evening, the Chief Minister chaired the first ever Cabinet meeting outside the State Secretariat at Circuit House in Tura.