Foundation stone for Karbi & Dimasa Bhawans laid in New Delhi

Guwahati: Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Karbi Bhawan and Dimasa Bhawan in New Delhi.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, state finance and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, development of Northeastern region (DoNER) minister Jitendra Singh and Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) chief executive member (CEM) Tuliram Ronghang were among the top leaders who were present at the foundation-laying ceremony.

The project for the construction of the two bhawans (complexes) in New Delhi is estimated at Rs 146 crore and is considered to a part of the Memorandum of Settlement that was signed between the erstwhile armed organisation United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) of Karbi hills in Assam, the state government and the Centre.

As per sources, out of the total estimated amount, Rs 85 crores will be spent for the building constructions and Rs 15 crore for furniture and interior design works. The estimated time of completion for the two buildings is expected to be two years and amount for the same will be spent from the package of the MoS signed.

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Moreover, land has already been allotted for the construction of the new Karbi Hemtun at Sector 13, Plot No. 11 & 12 in Dwarka while the earlier Karbi Bhawan at JK-2 S Block 199 in New Delhi will get three more bedrooms, attached kitchen and a sitting room. The Dimasa Bhawan is also likely to come up at Dwarka in New Delhi.

Addressing at the foundation laying ceremony, union home minister Amit Shah said that the Karbi Bhawan and Dimasa Bhawan will help in exposing the culture of Karbi and Dimasa tribes to the rest of the country.

“The project cost does not matter but the purpose for the same is what made me choose to attend this program today” he said.

Lauding the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Bharatiya Janata Party government, Shah said that BJP is trying to integrate the entire nation and the party is proud of Northeast India while the earlier Congress government has always kept it in backwards and the region was formerly known for ‘terrorism’ and ‘underdevelopment’.

“PM Modi has paid attention to Northeast India and BJP is taking the region towards development,” Shah added.

Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Sonowal said that the two bhawans are not being constructed only for the Karbi and Dimasas communities, rather it is an asset of the people of Assam. He also thanked KAAC’s Tuliram Ronghang and North Cachar Hills North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council CEM Debolal Gorlosa for working hard on both the projects by making it happen and finally bringing it to the phase of implementation.

Posting on Twitter, Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the establishment of Karbi Bhawan and Dimasa Bhawan will bolster the presence of KAAC and North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council’s presence at the national capital.

He thanked the Union home minister for taking out time to attend the foundation stone laying ceremony and said that there were many other projects of worth crores but the home minister chose to attend this particular one. “He has got the people of Assam in his mind,” Sarma added.

The construction of the two new buildings in New Delhi will benefit students and patients from Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts who will visit the national capital for studies and treatment in the near future.