Shillong bypass, Khyndailad beautification project and GSWSS Phase III tops the list

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: As curtains come down on 2012, the list of projects completed on time and delayed hold prominence.

Promises are meant to be broken if one goes by various announcements of the Government and their actual implementation in 2012.

 Shillong Bypass

The much talked about Shillong bypass for public use is a classic example with the project failing to meet deadline after deadline, with he latest being December 25.

A group of journalists who visited the site had found that large portions of the road project in the East Khasi Hills sector, especially ones along the stretch of Diengpasoh and Mawryngkneng, were still under construction.

In fact, contradicting the claim of Dr Sangma, PWD Minister HDR Lyngdoh told the Assembly that only 70 percent works have been completed during the recently concluded Winter Session.

 Kolkata Meghalaya house

Another important project which is yet to see the light of the day is the much delayed Kolkata Meghalaya House. The project was initiated way back in 2006.

The State Cabinet wanted to take possession of the Meghalaya House from the builder, following interminable delays which led to escalation of the cost from the initial estimated budget of Rs 22 crore to Rs 49.2 crore.

Khyndailad beautification

The Government has also faced severe criticism over the delay of the Khyndailad Beautification project.

The deadline of the project has been extended even though it was supposed to be completed within one year after its commencement.

The latest deadline to complete the project is July 2013.

 Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme Phase III

Another major project which is yet to see the light of the day is the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme Phase III.

Though the original deadline to complete the project was June 2012, the PHE continued to seek extensions for completion of the project.

The PHE had in fact sought extension on three occasions to complete the project and the new deadline which they have sought to complete the project is September 2013.

Under the GSWSS Phase III, the Government is targeting to provide water connections to 44,000 households.

The third phase of the water supply project, being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 193 crore, aims at augmenting the water supply to urban Shillong and its adjoining areas.

The much talked about expansion of the Shillong Airport in Umroi is yet to materialize due to opposition from several quarters including land owners since they wanted interest on compensation for land taken to expand the airport.

Moreover, the much hyped Save Umkhrah and Umshyrpi Campaign initiated by group of NGOs with the support of the Government has not yielded any tangible result.

After the gathering, nothing was heard about the initiatives taken by the forum to protect Umkhrah and Umshyrpi.

The setting up of metro cable cars which was conceived with an idea to provide additional means of transport to the people of the city is still hanging.

The status of the ambitious project of the State Government is still unclear even though eight bidders have responded to the bidding notification for installing metro cable cars.

 JNNURM projects

Many of the JNNURM projects which are being implemented in the State are still incomplete. Prominent among the JNNURM projects which is yet to be completed are the housing complex at Lum Phira in Nongmynsong and another housing project for urban poor under the Integrated Slum Development Project (ISDP) in Mawprem.

Only 99 housing units out of the total 600 housing units were inaugurated by the Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh recently.

Meanwhile, the Government can boast of some positive initiatives which it had initiated during the past one year.

Topping the list among the achievements of the Government is the commissioning of the first and second unit of the much delayed Myntdu-Leshka Project which was conceptualized way back in 2004. The third unit of the project is expected to commissioner early part of next year.

The entire project is expected to generate 126 mw of power for the State.

The Congress led MUA Government also created new districts two in Khasi-Jaintia Hill and another two in Garo Hills.

The Government had claimed that the main purpose of creation of the new districts was to bring administration closer to the people.

The Government also inaugurated the much awaited Meghalaya House at Vasant Vihar, Delhi.

Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma also launched the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) which will provide health insurance cover for all the residents of the State.

The scheme will provide all households, excluding Central and state government employees, in the State with a financial cover of upto Rs 1, 60,000 annually to cover in-patient services, irrespective of income levels.