Shillong, Feb 19: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on February 18 said that the proposal to carve out the Shillong agglomeration from East Khasi Hills and upgrade it into a separate district would be evaluated against eight administrative benchmarks before any decision is taken.
Responding to a short-duration discussion initiated by Paul Lyngdoh in the Assembly, Sangma emphasised that the creation of a new district or sub-division cannot be driven by sentiment or demand alone. He outlined key parameters that would guide the assessment, including geographical size, population strength, distance from the existing district headquarters, access to education and healthcare, economic profile, public convenience, communication infrastructure and financial sustainability.
The chief minister said every such proposal must first be reviewed by a high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary. The panel includes officials from the Home, Planning, Finance, Community and Rural Development, and Personnel departments, along with Divisional Commissioners and other senior functionaries. The committee will conduct a detailed evaluation before submitting its recommendations.
Sangma stressed that any administrative restructuring must translate into measurable improvements in governance and service delivery, rather than merely altering boundaries on paper.
Highlighting Shillong’s rapid expansion, he referred to projections in the city’s Master Plan that indicate urban growth extending beyond municipal limits into adjoining census towns and villages. With a population recorded at 3.54 lakh in 2011 and projected to exceed 4.47 lakh by 2041, the city faces mounting pressure on civic infrastructure and services.
He noted that Shillong’s administrative framework is more complex than most urban centres, with multiple authorities functioning simultaneously. These include the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, traditional institutions such as the Syiemship and Dorbar Shnong, and various state government departments. This layered system, he said, requires stronger coordination to ensure effective planning and implementation.
Sangma added that while urban agglomerations serve as economic drivers, rapid and unregulated growth can strain infrastructure, law enforcement and essential services. Any decision on carving out a new district, he indicated, would depend on whether it aligns with long-term urban planning objectives and enhances institutional capacity, making administrative viability the determining factor rather than political pressure.
