Tura-Shillong highway

SHILLONG, MARCH 20: Meghalaya deputy chief minister R. C. Laloo has said the process to acquire land for the much awaited Tura-Nongstoin-Shillong Highway was in progress and the government has already approved the award for compensation in the case of four out of the 22 stretches of the highway.

The four stretches of the highway in which compensation for the land acquired have been approved are Wahreng–Umjei in Mairang, Nongstoin Bypass, Umjei-Markasa and Nongkasen–Sohpein in the West Khasi Hills district. “Rs 1.33 crore as draft award for Wahreng–Umjei was approved in June 2012 while the other three were approved in February 2012,” Laloo, who holds the revenue portfolio, told the Assembly on Wednesday in reply to a question.

The deputy chief minister said the land acquisition proceedings for the other remaining stretches were at different stages of progress and the compensation will be paid as soon as the proceedings were completed.

Water bodies: The government today proposes to restore over 34 water bodies in the state. Deputy chief minister in-charge of water resources Rowell Lyngdoh said the project to restore water bodies will be taken up by his department under a scheme sponsored by the Union ministry of water resources.

“A State-Level Water Quality Review Committee has also been constituted in this regard,” he informed the Assembly on Wednesday. (By Our Reporter)