From Our Correspondent
Siju, March 23: A game changer for the residents of the picturesque village of Siju in South Garo Hills has quickly turned into one of disdain and neglect as the much-vaunted tourism amenities for the Siju Dobakkol area have brought in more questions than answers.
The Garo Students’ Union – Siju regional unit has raised a huge stink over a tourism package that came to the village for over Rs 9.3 crore in 2021 under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the centre. The scheme aimed to provide adventure avenues to people who came to the Siju caves and the village–an effort that could have helped generate revenue for the people.
However, a visit to Siju showed just how cruel reality turned out.
“An amount of Rs 2.5 crore was sanctioned for a rope walk and rock climbing set (contractors Protos Adventure Sports and Brilliant Sangma). Both of these, which were installed about two years ago, now lie completely in ruins. Further, the dilapidated state of these has become an eyesore,” union secretary Welbing Sangma said. Sangma added that these infrastructures have been overestimated to an extent that it feels ridiculous.
“We have checked online for similar structures and found that the entire set could have been completed in about 15-20 lakh but Rs 2.5 crore for this is ridiculous. It seems this was a way to fatten some people’s pockets,” added Sangma.
The entire package for Siju included a zip line at Rs 75 lakh (Nangwanlambok Nongsiej) which has gone completely missing is the solar lighting project (MS Samved Energy Systems) at over Rs 56 lakhs. Further, a bird watch tower, a cave interpretation centre and a broad walk (George M Lanong) as well as lighting inside the Siju cave was planned.
The project is priced at Rs 3.16 crore. However, as of now only the interpretation centre and an already crumbling bird watch tower remain. The interpretation centre remains under lock and key. It has never been opened since it was set up. The rest have all gone missing, leading to the ire of the CSO.
Another project—an approach road and parking at Siju is also under scrutiny. The project, given to Kartush Marak is missing the approach road.