From Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi: The new Meghalaya House which was inaugurated on Saturday will not only meet the long felt needs of accommodation in the national capital but also serve as happening place for attracting much needed investment, tourism and such other requirements, the Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma said.
At present because of various reasons there is wrong portrayal of whole of Northeastern region including Meghalaya as a disturbed place dissuading both the investors and the tourists as well, Dr Sangma said adding that even embassies issue travel advisory to their citizens cautioning them about the travel to the region.
Here, the new Meghalaya House which is much bigger and well connected can have meeting of stake holders like investors and tour operators to dispel the myth, he said.
In addition with growing activities the demand for temporary accommodation from all quarters has increased in the national capital, the Chief Minister said. “It is painful for such helpless accommodation seekers as well as officers not able to meet their request since the old Meghalaya House has a very limited number of room,” he said and hoped the new House will meet this basic need to a great extent.
Besides, accommodation and mini Meghalaya in Delhi, the new Meghalaya House can also come to the help of students, patients and others to guide them about the national capital.
Many such people from the hill state face innumerable difficulties when they land in Delhi and face a different crowd, he said.
Addressing the gathering the Minister for GAD and Water Resources Mr A L Hek dedicated the four story House to the people of Meghalaya. “This is just not a house but a Meghalaya in the national capital,” he said.
The Chief Secretary, Mr W M S Pariat who welcomed the guests said that this new house was a long felt need for the people of the state. It will help not only the visiting officers but also students, patients, holiday seekers and a host of others from the state, he said.
The new Meghalaya House in the posh Vasant Vihar locality of the metropolis will be opened for public next month.
Incidentally the new Meghalaya House is quite close to JNU and major hospitals like Max and Fortis. One Metro station is also coming up just opposite the new House. For the first time all the rooms of the new house are air conditioned with backup generator sets.
Built at a cost of nearly 25 crore rupees the three story house with two layer basement has as many as nineteen rooms, two dormitories -one for boys and one for girls and three halls for conference, exhibition, and multipurpose use, he said. The new house has two VVIP suits for Governor and Chief Minister and five VIP suits for Ministers and top officials.
The new house with Jharkhand House at one end and Mizoram House on the other was conceptualised in 2005 but was delayed by five years. To accommodate more guests the present house will be used for the VVIPs like Ministers and officials while the new house would be provided to others depending on vacancy and preference.
While overall supervision under the Resident Commissioner, day to day operations are being tried out through an outsourced model for the first time. Catering, room service and housekeeping services have all been outsourced.
During the interaction with media after the formal opening function, the Chief Minister informed that his Government is coming up with more such houses. These houses will focus on need section of society like students and patients in Delhi and other metros of the country.
The Minister for Power, Mr A T Mondal and Minister for Urban Affairs Ampreen Lyngodh also attended the function which began with Garo and Khasi songs.