By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 21: The state government’s proposal to develop a vending zone and parking lot at the park near Matri Mandir at Polo has raised concerns about Shillong losing its much-needed green spaces.
Traditional heads and citizens flagged the issue, in line with the CM Connect initiative, during a recent interaction with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
The Rangbah Shnong of Riatsamthiah, Mariahom Kharkrang, expressed apprehension over the proposed conversion of the park into a commercial space. He pointed out that the plot of land, adjacent to the Orchid Hotel and near Matri Mandir, has historically been a park and continues to function as one.
He said he had learnt that there was a plan to convert the area into a commercial park and that the land had been handed over to the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
Kharkrang further noted that the land was earlier managed by the Forest and Environment Department.
Emphasising the importance of preserving green spaces, he said that Shillong needs more open and green areas if it is to remain liveable and breathable in the future.
Responding to the concern, Sangma said the government had, about two years ago, initiated an exercise to identify government land not being used productively, to create infrastructure such as parking spaces and confirm areas for commercial use where required.
He said that during the exercise, several parcels of land belonging to departments such as MeECL and the Forest and Environment Department were identified. The park area at Polo was among these.The CM remarked that the site was a park only in name, not utilised and poorly maintained, with garbage dumped inside.
Sangma said the ongoing development in the Polo area has created an urgent need for organised vending zones
and parking facilities, while the availability of government land remains extremely limited. “Today, if the government wants to create parking space, there is absolutely no space. If we want to relocate vendors, there is no space. This is the only government land available in the area,” he said.
Sangma added that the proposed development is still at the negotiation stage and assured that efforts are being made to keep the front portion of the area open.
He said the government hopes to convince the vendors to move their shops further inside, allowing for better utilisation of the space while addressing parking and vending needs.
The proposed project, he said, is aimed at easing congestion in the Polo area, though the concerns raised by residents over the loss of green space continue to be debated.
