By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The slow pace of the land acquisition process for the New Shillong Township has deprived the city the means to streamline the evident unplanned urbanization here.
Taking into account the congestion the city witnesses, the proposed New Shillong Township is perhaps the only way forward, even if temporarily, to resolve the problems . Though the land acquisition for the project started way back in 1995, the township is yet to take a proper shape.
The State Government has so far acquired 370.266 hectares of land at a total cost of Rs 33.73 crore while it is contemplating to acquire more land at a budget of over Rs 800 crore.
As per the statistics, the State Government in the year 1995-96 acquired 101.79 hectares, 17.20 hectares in 1998-99, 131.16 hectares in 2003-04 and 120.11 hectares in 2006-07.
Meanwhile, a major controversy also cropped up recently with regard to the land acquisition as some farmers claimed that their land was sold by one Unikey Kharkongor of Laitumkhrah without their consent following which the Urban Affairs department immediately put on hold the allocation of the controversial portion of land.
The State Government recently also approved setting up of the New Shillong Township Development Agency (NSTDA) to explore the possibility of speeding up the land acquisition process.
So far, the Government has allotted 206.22 hectares of land to different departments while the remaining 164.04 hectares are yet to be allotted.
According to Principal Secretary Urban Affairs P Naik, a survey is underway to find out which areas can be acquired for the project after which a master plan would be prepared.
“We will seek funds from different financial institutions for the important project,” Naik said.
The existing New Shillong Township area comprises of 2030 hectares but after the survey, the proposed area which Government intends to acquire is 2760 hectares.
“Roads, water supply, drainage and sewage will be our top most priority in the project,” Naik added.
However, irrespective of the Government’s attempts, the project has failed to take off at a desired pace for it to be completed in near future.
