Shillong, Mar 21 (UNI) Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang today said his government was making spectacular progress in various departments despite minor lapses in certain areas.

Replying to the motion of thanks on the Governor's address, Mr Lapang urged the Opposition members to make constructive criticism to help the state government function better.

To a question of the Opposition on the delay in opening the Shillong bypass to ease traffic congestion in the capital, Mr Lapang admitted that it took a long time because of land acquisition procedure and stiff resistance from land owners.

He said the government now possessed land and compensation had already been disbursed. He stated that the bypass project would be completed soon.

Regarding the boundary problem with Asom, the chief minister said the government had done a lot and now sought the Centre's intervention to solve the problem.

On the power problem facing the state, he said private investors could come and generate power supply both hydro and thermal and could supply to neighbouring country and other states and earn more money.

However, a survey of about 20 micro-hydel project, besides thermal project in Garo hill had been done and the process was on to generate power through these project not only to augment the deficit position but also sell power to neighbouring states and even to Bangladesh.

Without private investors, the government alone could do nothing as there is no funds, he said.

He assured the house that the short-coming on the education, health, power, tourism and other departments, as pointed out by the Opposition, would be looked into for better performance.

A major achievement of his government this year was the establishment of IIM at Myuarbhanj campus of the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), which had already started functioning. He said the foundation stone for a permanent IIM institute would be laid down soon.

Earlier, several Opposition members criticised the government for its shortcomings.

UNI