SHILLONG, Jan 30: The Dorbar Khliehshnong Sohra has rejected the proposal to lease out community land to the Tourism department for infrastructure development at the Nohkalikai Viewpoint.
“As per the principal guidelines of the Dorbar, we do not allow any of our community land to be leased out,” Khliehshnong Sohra Dorbar Rangbah Shnong, Shembhlang Kharwanlang, stated in a letter addressed to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
For the project, the Dorbar has proposed that the Master Plan be divided into a Residential Zone and a Non-Residential Zone. The Residential Zone would include luxury cottages, a restaurant, and staff quarters, while the Non-Residential Zone would consist of a ticket counter, parking facilities, roads, washrooms, dry and wet shops, a Visitors’ Interpretation Centre, and viewing platforms.
Kharwanlang stated that the Non-Residential Zone should be developed by the Tourism department either through tendering or direct funding to the community. He added that in either case, their consultant should oversee the work to ensure it meets community specifications and design requirements.
Regarding the Residential Zone, which requires leasing the land, Kharwanlang said the decision would be put on hold until the Dorbar reaches a final resolution.
“We sincerely hope that your department appreciates and respects the views of the community as we strive to reach a common consensus on the implementation and operation of this project,” he added.
Meanwhile, he mentioned that the Dorbar had received a draft agreement for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Dorbar and the Tourism department. The agreement was discussed in a Dorbar meeting held on June 3, 2023, where it was thoroughly studied and deliberated upon.
Highlighting a key concern, Kharwanlang informed the chief minister that the proposed Master Plan was initiated by the Dorbar as far back as 2020. The Dorbar had engaged the services of Aiban S Mawkhroh, an experienced architect specialising in tourism infrastructure development. He stated that Mawkhroh had presented the concept Master Plan to Commissioner and Secretary of Tourism, Dr Vijay Kumar, during his visit to the community. Following the presentation, Kumar requested the Dorbar to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Kharwanlang further noted that during this meeting, it was agreed that the Dorbar would not be required to lease out its property. It was fortunate, he said, that their consultant was later commissioned by Meghalayan Age Ltd. to prepare the DPR in consultation with the Dorbar to address its needs and requirements.
However, Kharwanlang expressed concern that the draft agreement they recently received now states the necessity of leasing the land to the Tourism department, which would then engage a third party to operate and maintain the infrastructure within the Master Plan. “We are indeed indebted to the department for all the assistance given to our Dorbar for the development of infrastructure at the Nohkalikai Viewing Point,” Kharwanlang added.
