Tura, June 20: After much hiccups, it looks like that the government
has considered to look into the contentious issue of the newly
constructed marketing hub at Ringrey.
The complex has been in an eye of controversy for the last several
months. The inauguration was stalled as South Tura MLA John Leslee K.
Sangma vociferously opposed it on various grounds.
He even threatened to move court, if the government would have gone
ahead with its inauguration. The building was completed in December
last year.
The two storey building, constructed at an estimated cost of 2.6 crore
has been under scanner for ‘architectural defect’. The project was
undertaken through the central government scheme of backward region
grant fund (BRGF).
As per guidelines, a market hub should have had a parking space, a
proper pit, drainage, protection and retaining wall but Tura Municipal
Board and Urban Affairs department has flouted all norms.
The leakage inside the building is another aspect, which is being
looked at. The parking will be constructed on the left and right side
of the building.
On the right side, a lower primary school is functioning, which is
being shifted to a suitable location, which the school has agreed to.
The school, which presently has two class rooms will be provided six
rooms, toilet and facilities for children to play.
The delay in inauguration has angered many entrepreneurs, who are
contemplating to file suit for allotment of the building, which has
flaws.
Urban Affairs Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh has directed the department
to oversee the immediate construction of the parking space.
“Any operation from the complex would mean that Meghalaya Urban
Development Department has flouted its own rules. It would set a wrong
precedent”, said Sangma.
On the eviction notice, which has been served to vegetable vendors in
Ringrey, who will be accommodated in the marketing hub, Sangma said,
“I have asked them not to shift to the newly constructed hub, as it
does not have a parking lot. They have agreed to comply with. This has
also been conveyed to the urban affairs minister, who has assured to
look into it”.
The oldest Ringrey vegetable market here operates on a footpath lane,
which creates a lot of traffic congestion.
The marketing hub was conceptualised by the government to allow the
vegetable vendors and others to move to a permanent location, thereby
not causing any problem, which will crop up for expansion of the PWD
road, which is in pipeline now.
It has 101 rooms, including a restaurant space and 45 stalls for sell
of vegetable, meat, pork and fish.
In October last year, Sangma had threatened to move privilege motion
against community and rural development minister Prestone Tynsong in
the state assembly for misleading the house regarding construction of
a marketing hub.
During the Question Hour, Tynsong, while replying to a question on the
status of urban marketing hub at Tura had told the House that the
construction work of the said hub had been completed in compliance
with the existing Meghalaya Building bye laws.(SP News)
