MAWKYRWAT: Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, on Sunday said the Tourism department has been preparing a ‘master plan’ to revamp tourism in the South West Khasi Hills District circuit.
Conrad, accompanied by Power Minister James Sangma and Mawkyrwat MLA Renikton L Tongkhar, visited three tourist sites in Mawkyrwat area — Rilang River viewpoint at Mawranglang village, Monoliths at Tynrong in Mawlangwir village and Hotspring at Jakrem.
The prime purpose of this visit is to see some of the tourism sites, which the government will take up, Conrad said, adding that the project designing is taking place.
“So I want to see those locations so that I will be in a position to add to whatever I can and contribute to the overall idea,” he said.
The chief minister said that the consultant has already been finalised and they are preparing a master plan for the tourist sites in the district circuit which includes Nongnah, Tynrong and Hotspring.
“We will be developing a whole circuit out here. It may not happen at one go but we are preparing a master plan on how the tourism strategy should be and then, depending on that, we will be investing. This year itself, we will be starting some of the projects and will continue for the next two-three years,” Conrad asserted, adding that there is a lot of scope for tourism in the district where the locals will be benefitted.
The chief minister also said that another purpose of his visit is to see the overall road infrastructure in the district as certain parts of the Shillong-Mawkyrwat road are in a deplorable condition.
“We had, last week, taken a decision that we will be taking up this stretch from Mawphlang to Weiloi on a systematic maintenance programme, which is a new programme that we have started this year. Under this, other required maintenance also will be taken up once monsoon is over,” he said.
Speaking about the memorandum submitted by the Synjuk Seng Samla Shnong at Tynrong, Conrad said Mawkyrwat MLA has been working hard and has been continuously pushing the government to take up most of the roads.
He said that it will not be possible to take up all the road projects at one go but a lot of road projects have been taken up in the district.
Asked about the much-awaited 100-bed hospital in Mawkyrwat, which has been pending for more than 7 years, Conrad said the government has already finalised and the revised estimate has been clear and soon the work will start.
“The DC and the MLA have been in touch with me regarding this hospital and we will be ensuring that it will be done at the earliest because health is important for us, especially keeping in mind the COVID-19 situation. Therefore, this hospital here is a priority for us and we will try and finish it in this financial year with the maximum 7-8 months,” the chief minister said.
Conrad also said that with the cooperation of the local MLA, Renikton L Tongkhar, and the support of the local leaders, the government will do its best to ensure and bring maximum development to South West Khasi Hills.
Meanwhile, Tongkhar has thanked the chief minister for the initiative on the tourism sector and for deciding to improve the road from Weiloi to Mawkyrwat.