By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 4: In what is an indication that the government is going ahead with its move to convert the official quarters of the PWD (Buildings) at Barik into a parking space among other facilities, the department has issued an order asking its staff to vacate the premises of the complex by July 1.
A national flag, up to 50m high, will also be flown from the site.
The PWD (Buildings) on May 1 issued the order to nine of its staff including eight chowkidars and a driver who occupy the quarters at Barik compound.
“You are hereby requested to vacate the quarter within 01.07.2024 and to clear all outstanding dues, if any. You are also directed to hand over the key to the Assistant Executive Engineer, PWD (B), Sub-Division No II on vacating the allotted quarter,” the order read.
The government land at the Barik point belongs to the General Administration Department (GAD), according to sources.
It may be mentioned that the Meghalaya government is working towards implementation of the second phase of decongesting Shillong city.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that many government lands, which were lying unused, have been transferred to the Urban Affairs department in the first phase.
The department has decided to build parking lots at Ward’s Lake, NEIGRIHMS, and the Forest department and MeECL, both in Polo. These have been tendered out and in some places, the works have even started.
“Now continuing with that entire momentum we have gone through the different process of now using more government properties to create more parking lots,” Sangma told reporters.
He had mentioned that there is a proposal to shift the PWD office from Barik point.
According to him, the government bungalow at Barik point will also be used for a parking space.
It is said that a section of Phan Nonglait Park will also be converted into parking lot.
The animals in the park will be moved in the near future to a dedicated zoo, which is yet to open, and the space occupied by them will be used for the parking space.