Shilong: The Meghalaya Cabinet on 14 November cleared several significant proposals, including land acquisition in New Shillong Township, amendments to hiring rules for Group D staff and an increase in the state’s fiscal deficit limit.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the Cabinet approved the purchase of 35 acres of land at Tynring to build a corridor linking the Administrative City and Knowledge City in New Shillong Township.
The newly acquired land will also facilitate the relocation of the Central Jail from its current site. As per Sangma, the extra land is needed to ensure good connectivity between the Administrative and Knowledge City areas.
To resolve years of confusion over recruitment procedures, the Cabinet amended Rule 6(D) of the Meghalaya Ministerial District Establishment Service Rules, 2017.
Conflicting office memos from 1996 and 2017 had created uncertainty about whether half of the Group D posts should be reserved for Regular Casual Workers.
Sangma clarified that the government has now settled the matter in favour of the 1996 memo, confirming that 50 per cent of Group D jobs will go to Regular Casual Workers.
The Cabinet further approved amendments to the Meghalaya FRBM Act, 2006, raising the fiscal deficit ceiling from 3 per cent to 3.5 per cent of GSDP.
It also approved the reappointment of Justice Shivaji Pandey as President of the Meghalaya State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and cleared new Service Rules, allowing the Commission to establish its own recruitment board.
