Shillong, June 9: The ongoing construction work on the Shillong-Dawki road project has affected tourism and local livelihoods in Dawki and nearby areas, cabinet Minister and Amlarem legislator Lahkmen Rymbui said even as he called for patience till the work gets over.
Rymbui while speaking to reporters on Tuesday said the state and Centre recognise tourism’s importance, but infrastructure comes first.
“Meghalaya is blessed with natural beauty… government of Meghalaya and government of India recognize the importance of tourism. But we cannot develop tourism without road communication, telecommunication and other basic facilities,” he said.
Expressing gratitude to the Centre for the project, he said, “We are very thankful to the Government of India for financing the Shillong-Tamabil (Dawki) Road.”
He admitted the impact on livelihood, saying, “As of now the tourist inflow through the area is affected, the livelihood of the people is affected, but something is that we need to be patient.”
“Patience in the sense that now I have seen that the work is progressing very well, and I hope that in a very short time the executing parties or the contractor will be able to complete the job,” he added.
Rymbui also flagged safety concerns due to unstable soil in the region, noting that even light rain triggers landslides and that lives have been lost during construction. He stressed the need for precautionary measures.
“It affects Dawki, Mawlynnong and those areas, it affects the livelihood of the people… Precaution is needed because we cannot deny the fact that human life has also been lost during the ongoing construction,” he said.
The minister said it was the responsibility of the sub-divisional magistrate and the government to ensure safety and expedite completion.
“It is the duty of the government also to see that the construction should be completed as early as possible,” Rymbui said.
