SHILLONG: In his first response to the controversial idea of a mall project in downtown Barik area here, chief minister Conrad Sangma has virtually disfavoured the proposal earlier mooted by Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong for a Delhi’s Saket-type mall. Instead, Sangma has moderated the project contours saying that the government was looking to balance out the aesthetic looks and also reap out commercial values.
Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma said that may be some people have made their own imagination out of the project while stating that the government wants to use the assets in the best possible manner by constructing a standout infrastructure in PWD Complex at Barik point.
“We need to balance out what is aesthetically correct and something which looks good and at the same time getting out commercial value so that revenue can be generated,” Sangma said while replying to a query on the opposition to the idea of constructing a shopping complex at Barik Point.
Stating that similar actions have been taken throughout the country, he added that the idea of the Government was to maximise and improve the overall looks of the city by seeing the value of different commercial and land properties. “We will work to ensure that balance is maintained,” he said.
The proposal of the state government to convert the nondescript PWD complex into a shopping mall and green space drew flaks from the citizens and NGOs who have expressed their strong resentment against the creation of a concrete jungle in this prime land. Even cabinet ministers disagreed with the proposal.
The PWD and Transport department are the stakeholders in the project and the proposed idea is that the project will be developed by the PWD as the land belongs to the department and it will be operated by MTC since PWD is not a revenue earning department and the Corporation has experience in managing a market as they are operating MTC bus stand which has several shops in Police Bazar.
Earlier, the Urban Affairs Dept had called for global tenders to develop the place but since land belongs to PWD, the Urban Affairs Dept cannot have the final say on the matter.
The project was originally initiated by the Urban Affairs Department to be handed over to the State PWD since the land belongs to them. It was In November last year that the state government called for tenders for eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing heritage spot at Barik.