The Tourism Department has not taken up a project to beautify the Umiam viewpoint because the Rs 2 crore allocated by the Centre is “insufficient.”
This was stated in the Assembly today by Tourism Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar. The department, he said, is looking for alternate sources of funding. The matter was raised by Umroi MLA George Lyngdoh on the last day of the Budget Session.
The government had proposed Rs 7 crore for the project but the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs only approved Rs 2 crore, the minister said, adding that accepting the amount was a non-starter as the entire project is inter-related and partial implementation would not work.
Included in the government’s proposal were two ‘steel fabricated’ decks with staircases at Rs 2 crore and Rs 1.90 crore, kiosks, lifts, glass railings and a dedicated cobbled parking area. The viewpoint would also have a solid waste management and integrated sewer system.
Dhar also informed that the Rs 200 allotted by the Centre has not been spent.
Lyngdoh suggested that since the amount is sitting in a government bank account some facilities like public lavatories and dedicated parking could still be constructed. “Due to the lack of public utilities and waste management system, the entire stretch has become a menace. At night you will see people randomly parking in the area, so maybe the government can install solar street lights,” he suggested.
His party colleague, Charles Pyngrope, supported the Umroi MLA and said that, as per the government’s own estimates, public conveniences, a little landscaping, parking area and non-civil work can be accomplished for Rs 94 lakh.
Leader of the opposition, Dr Mukul Sangma, also questioned whether the Tourism Department had consulted with other departments before planning such an extensive project that will sit right on a two-lane national highway. Dhar, however, said that consultations had been held.
