The controversial Barik Point redevelopment plan is only at the conceptualisation stage and views and opinions from inter-related departments will be considered before finalising the plans, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said today in the Assembly.
The redevelopment of the Public Works Department compound at the location has swung between public park (for which the government held a competition and awarded Rs 12 lakh to the winners) to shopping mall (as the government recently decided that it needed to make some economic gain out of its assets). The shopping mall idea has drawn scorn from a wide section of society, including the political class.
East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh urged the government to include her and South Shillong legislator Sanbor Shullai in the decision-making process as this area lies at the juncture of their constituencies. Lyngdoh’s Congress colleague Zenith Sangma then said that even Garo Hills MLAs should have a say in the matter as Shillong is the capital of the state and belongs to all.
Nongthymmai MLA Charles Pyngrope added that the idea of a shopping mall had become redundant as the growth of online shopping is leading to many malls closing around the country.
