SHILLONG, Dec 21: Many of the localities have welcomed the Meghalaya government’s initiative aimed at providing facelift to the three ‘urban centres’ of the state — Shillong, Jowai and Tura — under its project called ‘Locality Beautification and Enhancement Competition’.
The localities are of the view that the state government has taken a step in the right direction in targeting to restore the lost glory of the major urban centres in the state.
Speaking to The Shillong Times here on Tuesday, Wahthapbru Rangbah Shnong, J Rymbai, said that the Dorbar Shnong is shifting its focus to Motphran, which is a major commercial area that falls under its jurisdiction, for a facelift. “We have already beautified our locality by fitting floor tiles of all the footpaths and roads. We will not shift our focus to Motphran area,” Rymbai said.
According to him, the major contribution to the filthy condition of Motphran is due to the roadside hawkers, especially now that majority of them have constructed wooden platforms.
“We will try to educate the roadside hawkers and even the standalone shops at Motphran on the need to properly dump their garbage. We are planning to put dustbins in various points for the people who visit the market to dump their garbage,” the Wahthapbru Rangbah Shnong said.
According to him, the SOPs pertaining to COVID-19 have helped the people realise the need to maintain cleanliness in the fight against the coronavirus.
He also urged upon the people to participate by maintaining cleanliness at Motphran. Rymbai stated that nothing is impossible while citing the efforts of one person, which managed to beautify Khyndai Lad area. “We can replicate the same even in Motphran,” the Rangbah Shnong said.
Asserting that safety and security will be one of the priorities of the Dorbar, he said that they are planning to install solar streetlights right from Motphran till Stand Jeep.
Rymbai said that the entire stretch from Motphran up to Garikhana is a sensitive area due to the presence of many anti-social elements. “Many of the anti-social elements are coming up due to the darkness of the area. We also urged upon the government to install the high mast streetlights at Qualapatty junction for the safety and security of the area,” he said.
Rymbai said that they have got a sanction of Rs 13 lakh under this programme.
While lauding the initiatives taken by the government, Nongrim Hills Rangbah Shnong, Bantylli L Narry, said that various Dorbar Shnong should ensure that they utilise the funds properly in order to build the relation and trust with the state government.
Stating that the Dorbar Shnong has taken the steps to beautify the locality 10 years back, Narry said that they have their own people to clean the roads throughout the locality.
“We are paying the wages from the funds of the Dorbar Shnong. We want to maintain the cleanliness of the locality,” Narry said.
He informed that the Dorbar has plans to paint the walls of the locality and convert the guard wall into flower beds, even as he added that there are numerous other activities on cards aimed at beautification of the locality.
Narry informed that there is a committee under the chairmanship of former Rangbah Shnong, J Lyngwa, on the state government’s beautification programme.
Narry informed that the Dorbar Shnong of Nongrim Hills has received a total sanctioned of Rs 15.6 lakh.
Rangbah Shnong of Kench’s Trace, Oxford and Rilbong, Glanding Lyngdoh, said that this is the first-of-its-kind initiative of the government that has provisions to involve the traditional institutions.
According to him, they are planning to paint the walls on the roadside and repair the streetlights which are defunct. Lyngdoh informed that they have got a sanctioned of Rs 5.5 lakh.
