Tura, Sept 02: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, inaugurated the Commercial Facility-cum-Parking Lot of the Urban Affairs Department at Akonggre locality of Tura in the presence of Thomas A Sangma, Chief Adviser to the Chief Minister, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Swapnil Tembe, Superintendent of Police, VS Rathore, CEO of Tura Municipal Board, officials of line departments, locality leaders and prominent citizens on 2 September.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that Tura town being the headquarters of Garo Hills had been neglected for a long time in terms of infrastructural development. This Govt. however, has put the impetus for the development of the town after it came to power, he added.
According to the Chief Minister, under the Smart Town Project, the Govt. has spent Rs. 55 crores for beautification of Tura town and improvement of internal roads in different localities of the town and informed that the Govt. has sanctioned Rs. 15 crores for new roads and Rs. 13 crores had been spent for improvement of existing roads.
The Chief Minister informed that the Govt. has given priority to solving the water crisis in Tura and almost 60 to 70 per cent of the problems have been solved and working with a concerted effort to bring an end to the water crisis in the town.
Informing that Tura town is expanding rapidly, the chief minister said that in the second phase of beautification, the circular road in the Tura Bazar will be taken up for which the Govt. will have to spend about Rs. 5 to 6 crores and said that all the localities will be provided with solar street lights and sought the support and cooperation of the people of Tura to transform the town.
To check the rise in prices of essential commodities due to unscrupulous elements, the chief minister asked the trading community to cooperate with the police and the district administration and assured to provide all necessary help to protect them. Talking of his vision to make Tura one of the best towns in the North East, the chief minister also stressed the need to have proper solid waste management for the beautification of the town.
The Chief Adviser to the Chief Minister, Thomas A Sangma, in his brief speech informed that the development of Tura town is moving forward in the right direction due to the efforts of the Govt. and the people with the right commitment and exhorted the people to work together for the development and progress of Tura.
The Deputy Commissioner, Swapnil Tembe, informed that space is a constraint and the Tura market is congested. However, with the inauguration of a new commercial complex, the vending zones’ problems will now be solved and urged the vendors, traders and hawkers to follow the rules and notification of the Tura Municipal Board (TMB).
On the day, the Joint Director of Urban Affairs Department, B Lapo, delivered the keynote address and the CEO of TMB, Rikse R Marak, delivered the welcome address. The District Urban Planner, HPN Sangma, proposed the vote of thanks.
