Shillong, July 8: The Meghalaya Cabinet on Wednesday approved an amendment to the lease agreement to allow Orchid Resort, Mawkasiang in New Shillong to be upgraded to a 5-star category resort.
After chairing the meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the proposal came following a request from the current leaseholders to invest further and develop the property. He said the private operator has now expressed interest to bring the resort up to 5-star standards.
To facilitate the upgrade, the Cabinet decided to revise the terms of the lease on lines similar to those given to other 5-star hotel projects in the state. “So based on that…we have decided to amend it based on similar clauses which have been given to other 5-star hotel developments,” Sangma said.
As per the revised conditions, the developer will have to make a one-time deposit and share revenue with the state.
“Which is basically that they have to put a deposit of Rs 5 crore, a one-time deposit, and also 4% of the overall turnover has to be given to the Government of Meghalaya, to the MTDC,” he said.
Sangma added that the final approval for the 5-star upgrade will be granted once the new terms are accepted.
“So those terms and conditions will be part of the agreement, and once they accept that, permission to upgrade to a 5-star category resort will be given to the concerned party,” he said.
