By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Urban and Municipal Affairs Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh told the State Assembly on Friday that steps will be taken to complete the housing project in time at Mawprem.
Replying to call attention on delayed housing project at Mawprem, the Minister said that integrated slum development project for urban poor, under JNNURM was sanctioned in February 2009 for Rs 177.50 lakh, for the construction of 48 dwelling units.
Initially, the project could not be taken up for want of land.
While formulating the detailed project report, land measuring 9,900 square feet belonging to a private owner was identified and a tripartite agreement was signed in December 2008 by the landowner, Dorbar Shnong and MUDA and it was agreed that the land identified would be provided by Dorbar Shnong and landowner and the payment of compensation was fixed as per notified rates of the Government.
The Minister said that however, when the land acquisition was initiated in 2010, the landowner was unwilling to accept the government rate stating that it was too less.
“Negotiations were then taken up with him again in 2011 and the government had agreed to pay the owner the re-assessed cost of land and accordingly acquisition was processed and land was taken over again in November 2011.”
Despite all efforts put in to speed up the project, the concerned land could not be freed of all encumbrances as few existing tenants on the land took considerable time in vacating the land, the Minister said.
Moreover, an existing electric pole at the site hindered the progress of work and this could be removed by the MeECL only in April 2012, the Minister said.
“Thereafter the commencement of the work was initiated, but the work was stalled again as a neighbouring owner on the site claimed a portion of the land. The matter could be resolved by the intervention of the Dorbar Shnong only by July 31 this year, she said. The Minister further said that subsequently, the contractor initiated the earth excavation work for the building of the retaining wall at the site.
“However, due to unknown reasons, the construction work did not progress further and it was then that officials of the MUDA brought the status of things to the attention of the Government”, Lyngdoh said.
The Minister said that necessary instructions were issued to the contractor for resumption of the work within December 20 failing which the work will be withdrawn.