Jemino calls for solid urban plan to tackle traffic congestion
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: From the state’s fiscal health to the growing menace of traffic congestion in the city, several issues grabbed attention in the general discussion on the Budget in the Assembly on Friday.
Opposition member Paul Lyngdoh (UDP) expressed concern over the State’s fiscal deficit.
Participating in the general discussion on Budget in the Assembly on Friday, Lyngdoh said that the expenditure was on the higher side than revenue and advocated for an institutional reform immediately to improve the fiscal health of the State.
He suggested the Government to look into the state’s strength and lay stress on skill development, arts, education and health care.
Lyngdoh also urged the Government to build a football academy in the State which is blessed with talent in sports.
He also sought to know the status of the proposed music university in the State. “Musicians and sportspersons are the brand ambassadors of the state,” he said while urging the State Government not to delay the setting up of the music academy in the State.
He also asked the Government to start the process of setting up the local office of Censor Board in Shillong since people in Guwahati would not understand the movies made in local language.
Legalise country made liquor
Lyngdoh stated that time has come for the Government to legalize county made liquor on the lines of fenni in Goa.
Meanwhile, Nongthymmai MLA Jemino Mawthoh, while expressing concern over the growing traffic congestion in the city, asked the Urban Affairs department to come up with a proper urban plan not only for Shillong but for other towns as well.
Participating in the Budget Discussion, he also lamented the indiscriminate waste disposal in the city and asked the Government to look for land for waste disposal in and around the city.
While appreciating the State Government for successfully hosting the 12th South Asian Games in Shillong, Mawthoh suggested that sports infrastructure in the city has to improve further to enable it to hold the National Games in near future.
Stating that sport plays an important part in youth development, Mawthoh urged the State Government to improve the five stadia in his constituency.
He also asked the State Government to sort out the anomalies in the implementation of the National Food Security Act in Meghalaya.
Generate power from renewable resources
Meanwhile, Mylliem legislator Ronnie V Lyngdoh (Cong) urged the State Government to generate power from renewable sources not only for local consumption but for sale to neighboring states and even to Bangladesh.
Participating in the general discussion on Budget, Lyngdoh said that the Power department must work out ways to generate power from renewable resources available in the State.
Appreciating the Chief Minister for presenting a farsighted budget, he said that Meghalaya has remained unscathed despite the global economic slowdown.
He said the State’s fiscal deficit of Rs 1090 crore would have been lesser if the full entitlement of Rs 4291 crore from Central taxes would have been received.
It may be mentioned that as per the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission and based on fiscal assessment of the expected performance of the economy during the award period, the State is entitled to share in Central taxes of Rs 4291. However, based on its current assessment, the Centre has determined the entitlement at Rs 3668.82 crore for 2016-17 leading to a reduction of Rs 622.18 crore.
Lyngdoh added that less revenue earned from coal mining also added to the deficit.
Meanwhile, he urged the taxation department to plug leakage of revenue.
He was also full of appreciation for the State Police’s Safe and Secure Shillong project and Visiting Police Station programme even as he lauded the traffic cops for discharging their duties efficiently.
He said that it is time now to adopt modern traffic management even as he urged the Government to install CCTVs in sub urban areas of the city to put a stop to rash driving.
He also asked the Government to expedite the implementation of PMGSY since sometimes it takes 6-7 years to blacktop a road.
While lamenting the delay in the implementation of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme he slammed the PHE department for its “lack of planning.”