The Meghalaya Assembly on Thursday raised concerns over delays in fund releases under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and slow progress in engineering college projects. Public Health Engineering Minister Marcuise N Marak said the state had been allocated ₹405.64 crore for 2024-25, but no funds have been released for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Marak added that unpaid contractor bills under JJM stood at ₹695.01 crore as of August 31, 2025, pending clearance by the Centre.
On the education front, Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma stated that construction at Ampati Engineering College has reached 25 per cent, with ₹15 crore already spent. He assured that both Shillong and Ampati engineering colleges would be completed at the earliest.
Opposition leader Mukul Sangma urged the government to expedite the projects, while Ampati MLA Miani D Shira raised concerns over the absence of a proper access road to the college. Marak acknowledged that the temporary road often suffers damage during rains and promised a permanent solution.
The Assembly also witnessed a row over the low-profile inauguration of Shillong Engineering College, the state’s first. Mukul Sangma, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, and Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma noted they were not invited. The Chief Minister clarified that classes had begun without AICTE approval but assured a formal programme would be held soon, calling it a “proud moment” for Meghalaya.
