SHILLONG, APR 9: UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh told the state assembly on Tuesday that Shillong has lost its glory of being the “education hub” of the north east India and may soon become the “slum hub” of the region due to congestion and unplanned urbanization even as Meghalaya urban affairs minister Ampareen Lyngdoh assured him that the government is planning to address the problem by expanding the city in the new Shillong township.
Mawthoh said Meghalaya, especially Shillong, is rapidly growing without any planning and indication is that it will soon be an ‘urban nightmare’ if corrective measures are not taken
Mawthoh felt this is a serious concern where proper planning and management is needed. The unplanned growth and burgeoning population he said is putting a stressed on the civic amenities in Shillong.
Mawthoh felt the root cause of scarcity of water, traffic jams, and poor health condition besides degrading environment is the unplanned growth of the city. He said, “There are 19 notified slum areas but if the government does not intervene Shillong will soon be known as the ‘slum’ of north east in the coming days.
Admitting the congestion and unplanned nature of growth with the Shillong cit, urban affairs minister Ampareen Lyngdoh the government has envisaged the setting up of New Shillong Township.
Lyngdoh told the assembly, “As per the projections of the master plan, additional 2 lakh populations will be accommodated in the new township”. She informed that 370.26 hectares of land has been acquired at a cost of Rs 33.73 crores. The government, she added is contemplating acquisition of another 1200 hectares of additional land for provision of infrastructure, housing, commercial, institutional, administrative and recreational uses.
Lyngdoh also assured that construction of parking lot, flyover and under pass, widening of road and construction of new roads, installation of traffic signal and scientific detection system, development of good terminus, mini bus terminus and taxi terminus is being undertaken by the government in the urban areas.- By Evanjopline Dkhar
+ There are no comments
Add yours