SHILLONG, July 11: Rangbah Shnong of various localities of Shillong, including areas beyond the Shillong Municipality, on Thursday conglomerated for the Consultative Meeting on Urban Rejuvenation, which was held at the Convention Centre here on Thursday.
The meeting highlighted a comprehensive plan by the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and the Urban Affairs Department for systematic waste management.
During the meeting, Commissioner & Secretary of Urban Affairs and Tourism, Dr. D Vijay Kumar, highlighted the different routes that are being planned to ensure a smooth transit system in the New Shillong Township after the relocation of the Secretariat there. He also listed out the spaces that would be reclaimed within the city, barring those with heritage buildings that would be converted to more systematic parking lots and also for creating spaces for hawkers.
Addressing the gathering and answering the queries of the Rangbah Shnong after the presentations, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the state government plans to turn the Wah Umkhrah into a waterfront that would be better looked after and freed from the waste dump that it has become currently.
Explaining that waste management is a challenge because of the division between municipal and non-municipal areas within the same city that has grown exponentially, the chief minister said, “We plan to create an independent Waste Management Agency that would include the entire Shillong area and will do a professional job of managing waste. We need all the Dorbar Shnong to collaborate with this agency, which is the first step towards urban rejuvenation.”
Conrad also stated that even the Governor was willing to cede land from the plush Raj Bhavan to assist with road expansion and other rejuvenation plans.
Referring to the issue of hawkers, the chief minister said that the State Law, which had earlier been legislated despite there being a national law on hawkers, had created legal problems.
Hence, now the state law on hawkers has accordingly been amended, Conrad said, informing that hawking zones will be identified and every vendor would be surveyed.
Referring to the Barik area where the old PWD building stands, the chief minister said the area would be developed to provide space for various activities without disturbing the heritage buildings. To the demand of the Rangbah Shnong for CCTV cameras to assist them in better monitoring the activities around the shnong, the chief minister said the CCTVs would be provided but the same would be centrally monitored from the command and control centre.
Chief Secretary DP Wahlang, who also headed the consultation, said that a Dorbar Shnong that has concrete suggestions to make should submit that in writing to the Secretary Urban Affairs Department, Isawanda Laloo.
There was active interaction from the different Rangbah Shnong, some of whom felt that fresh thinking of urban management was the need of the hour.
Presentations on the cleaning and rejuvenation of the Wahumkhrah River and Waste Management were given during the meeting. Discussions on the way forward with the active involvement of the community were also held.
Rangbah Shnong of Riatsamthiah, Mariahom Kharkrang, while appreciating the initiative of the government to clean the water bodies, improve the road connectivity, and open new roads and partner with stakeholders, however, pointed to the narrowing of roads due to hawkers who have invaded all public roads.
He pointed out that action should be immediately taken against new hawkers who set up illegal temporary sheds whenever the government widens the roads.
Kharkrang also pointed to the road along the NEIGRIHMS where shops have been set up all along the footpath.
“We need to learn from past mistakes and act immediately before they can lay claim to the place,” he added.
“A number of multi-parking lots are planned but the government should stop making shops in the complex as past experience has clearly indicated that half the parking lots are occupied by shopkeepers,” he added.
“We have enough of shops set up in private plots and we need to have only parking lots to be set up in government land. This is the only way to clear the road from parked vehicles,” he said.
Rangbah Shnong of Kenches Trace, Kyrsoi Bok Nongbri, said that while the footpath at many places is well maintained, few have been occupied by hawkers causing inconvenience to the passersby. He cited the footpath outside the Shillong Civil Hospital.
He also pointed out how the drain outside the PWD office is clogged and filled with dirt.
Nongbri then highlighted the issue of drugs and the urgent need to address it.
Talking about the programme, he said the initiative is good and they have learnt that there are a lot of projects coming up to decongest Shillong city and also on waste management.
He said they want the projects to be implemented properly and it should be scam-free as a lot of money is involved.
Rangbah Shnong of Nongrim Hills Bantylli Lang Narry said a lot was discussed and now the government should take action on those points. He suggested keeping a check on the migration of old vehicles from other states and cities, and usage of buses over private transportation to government offices and schools.
Pointing out that there are many proposals from the state government to decongest the city roads by creating more roads and parking spaces, he said, “We appreciate the initiative but let us see what will materialise in days to come. We are optimistic with what the government is planning to do and we can see the sincerity but a lot depends on implementation.”
Laban Rangbah Shnong Edward L Kharwanlang said most of the things were as discussed in the last meeting held earlier and that Laban falls under the river rejuvenation plan and now action will be initiated by the department concerned.
Talking about the meeting, he said, “It is a welcome initiative but we are awaiting action from the state government. If this can be implemented within a definite timeline it will give a facelift to the whole of Shillong.”