By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh inspected the various JNNURM projects being implemented in Nongpoh, Ri-Bhoi district on Wednesday.
Ampareen inspected the sites of the Solid Waste Management, Housing for Urban Poor and the Commercial Complex at Nongpoh.
When contacted, Ampareen informed that the three projects would be handed over to the Nongpoh Town Committee after its completion.
On the Solid Waste Management Project, she said that this will be the first integrated solid waste management project being implemented in the State.
“It will have a vermi-composting unit using earthworms to tackle bio-degradable waste and an integrated sanitary landfill for non-bio-degradable waste. It is a path-breaking project for Nongpoh Town and promises to be a long-term solution to the growing problem of solid waste in this growing and important town of the State,” Urban Affairs Minister said.
She however felt that the key factor for the success of the project is the active community participation, the Urban Affairs minister said she ensured that members of the Nongpoh Town Committee were actively involved even in the early stages of implementation while adding that training and awareness programs for the community have also been planned in the coming weeks for segregation of waste into wet and dry waste at source. Good waste management practices would also be taught to the community in a people-led effort to ensure 100 per cent collection efficiency of waste. Ampareen also informed that ten waste collection vehicles would also be provided.
The Minister felt that this project addresses a long-felt need for the town and said that the project focuses on an end-to-end solution for collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste.
In connection with the Housing for Urban Poor at Nongpoh, she said that the project was sanctioned in February 2009 under the Integrated Housing & Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) while adding that a total amount of Rs. 918.15 lakh for a total number of 240 units has already been sanctioned.
“The basic objective of the IHSDP is to strive for holistic slum development with a healthy and enabling urban environment by providing adequate shelter and basic infrastructure facilities to the slum dwellers of the identified urban areas” she said.
Replying to a query, Ampareen said that the project is expected to be completed within 2012.
About the commercial complex at Nongpoh, she said that the construction work is almost complete except for the installation of transformer, adding that the matter is being pursued with the MeECL and by January 2012 the same is expected to be commissioned.
With the commissioning of the Shopping Complex, the Urban Affairs Minister is of the view that the market needs and day-to-day shopping requirements of the people of Nongpoh will be served through this organized shopping centre.
Deputy Commissioner Akash Deep along with senior officials of MUDA and Urban Affairs department accompanied the Urban Affairs Minister on Wednesday.