Meghalaya deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong said a mini secretariat will be built in two district headquarters of the state, Jowai and Tura.
The announcement came after the move of the state government to shift the PWD (Roads) North Division office from Jowai to Shangpung has been strongly opposed.
Jowai has been the district headquarters of the erstwhile Jaiñtia Hills district, which has been divided into two districts now – West Jaiñtia Hills and East Jaiñtia Hills districts.
Jowai remains the district headquarters of West Jaiñtia Hills now.
Justifying the decision to shift the PWD (Roads) North Division office to Shangpung, Tynsong said this decision was taken to facilitate the construction of a mini secretariat at Jowai so that offices of various departments including the office of the deputy commissioner will function from one roof.
“We have 11 districts in the state, but out of 11, we are going to start building the mini secretariat in two oldest district headquarters at Jowai and Tura,” Tynsong said.
He said the available space at PWD (Roads) North Division office is around 5 acres.
When asked about the cost of the proposed mini secretariat at Jowai and Tura, Tynsong said the PWD (Buildings) would prepare the design, and the land of the PWD (Roads) at Jowai would be handed over to the district administration.
“We would first start with these two district headquarters, and later a similar mini secretariat would be built in other district headquarters as well,” Tynsong said.