By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 25: Cautioning that Meghalaya’s economic ambitions hinge on how well its towns are managed, Trinamool Congress chief and Nongthymmai MLA Charles Pyngrope on Wednesday called for a comprehensive urban planning framework to prevent rapid growth from turning into a long-term crisis.
Speaking from what he described as a clear “urban perspective” during the Budget discussion, he said nearly 20% of Meghalaya’s population now lives in urban areas, with Shillong and Tura absorbing much of the pressure.
He noted that the Budget allocated Rs 1,540 crore and positioned New Shillong as an emerging administrative and institutional hub, a development he said he witnessed first-hand over a decade of representing the area.
However, he cautioned that growth without structured planning would convert opportunity into “congestion and liabilities.” He pointed out that vehicle registrations in Shillong have more than doubled over the last decade, with 12,000 to 15,000 new vehicles being added annually, while the roads have not expanded proportionately.
As a result, towns are already facing traffic gridlock, seasonal and increasingly perennial water shortages, waste management overload, landslide vulnerability and drainage collapse during intense rainfall.
Pyngrope underlined the urgent need for a structured urban regional plan with strict zoning enforcement, clarity on floor area ratios, integrated transport planning and a stormwater master plan. Without this, he warned, capital expenditure today could create long-term urban distress.
He further said affordable housing must not be reduced to the construction of units alone. He argued that in a hill state, housing must integrate livelihood access, connectivity, schools, healthcare, solid waste systems and green buffer zones.
“Without such planning, the state risks building settlements, not communities,” he said, calling for carrying capacity assessments and mandatory rooftop rainwater harvesting in urban housing projects.
Highlighting water security, Pyngrope said no constituency in Shillong is free from water shortage. He stressed the need for spring rejuvenation, wetland protection, rooftop harvesting mandates, and integrated stormwater-sewage systems.
Recalling past incidents of heavy rainfall that left localities inundated due to inadequate drainage, he said urban water and drainage infrastructure must be treated as strategic priorities alongside roads and buildings.
He pointed out that despite generating hundreds of tonnes of waste daily, sewage treatment coverage remains limited.
He proposed a comprehensive Urban Reform Mission with mandatory master plans for district headquarters, climate-resilient construction codes, urban water and waste emergency strategy, and strengthened urban finance mechanisms.
Referring to the proposed ₹492-crore allocation for road maintenance in 2026-27, Pyngrope said arterial roads passing through residential areas in Nongthymmai have effectively become highways due to rising inter-district traffic. He urged the government to consider allocating a share of the maintenance outlays to address mounting pressure in the constituency, describing it as a key urban gateway.
“Development must not compromise liveability,” he said, adding that infrastructure expansion must keep pace with systemic planning.
