Govt to sanction fund for construction of Jowai market

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 4, 2020

JOWAI: The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government has decided to sanction fund for resuming the construction of the much-delayed Jowai shopping complex at Iawmusiang market, pending the release of the second installment by the Centre.

The decision was announced by the chief minister Conrad K Sangma after a meeting held with the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), Public Works Department (Building) in Jowai, where the second ‘Cabinet on the move’ was taken place here on Tuesday.

Iawmusiang is one of the biggest and the oldest traditional markets in the region and had been in existence since the days of the ancient Jaintia Kingdom.

The proposal for re-development of the market was accorded administrative approval in July 2006.

A total of Rs 20.09 crore was sanctioned by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), of which the first instalment amounting to Rs 6.33 crores was released on February 10, 2009.

After the meeting, the chief minister told reporters that the project was cleared under Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) Scheme and the reason why it got stuck was because of the changes made in the drawings and in the DPR and some confusion with the Ministry of DoNER.

“We are still pursuing the matter with the government of India and Ministry of DoNER for releasing the rest of the funds,” he said.

Sangma also announced that the state government has decided to sanction necessary fund required for restarting the construction of the project.

“We will give the fund for the process to start as the objective is to ensure that the project is completed,” he said. According to him, the PWD (buildings) have been asked to submit a full report on this regard.

Asked, the chief minister said that roughly around Rs 12 crore to Rs 14 crore is required to complete the project.

Earlier, the Jaintia Tribal Traders’ Association (JTTA) had threatened to seek the intervention of the Meghalaya High Court into the inordinate delay to complete the construction of the shopping complex.

According to the association, the failure to complete the shopping complex even after a lapse of 8 years has affected and dislocated the livelihood activities of over 1,000 traders.