A panoramic view of the Umiam lake

Shillong, May 2: A grand plan by the Meghalaya government — based on New Delhi’s Appu Ghar and Calcutta’s Nicco Park — is all set to give the Northeast its biggest amusement park, in the picturesque settings around the Umiam lake, popularly known as Barapani.

The project to covert nearly 100 hectares near the Orchid lake resort into an amusement and adventure park have been okayed and if everything goes according to plan, then the region’s first “wonder-cum-amusement park will be ready by the end of next year.

“The amusement park will be Meghalaya’s Disneyland with a variety of enjoyable games and rides,” chief minister D.D. Lapang, the brain behind the project, told The Telegraph. Sources in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government said the Umiam project had already been conceptualised and it would have overhead cable cars to transport visitors from one end of a hill to another. Other features include a splash pool, water sports, tracks for go-carting as well as dirt tracks for bike and cycle races.

Sources said the forest department would be asked to chip in and assist in organising elephant or pony-back rides. There is also a proposal for special boat rides for bird watching. Lapang said he has been nurturing a dream to convert Barapani and some areas in an around Umiam lake into one of the “best tourist centres”. He said his dream project was part of the MDA’s “sincere attempts” to develop the state and make it the “most happening” tourist destination.

“I have been repeatedly talking about peace and development because I want to see that that the ‘Scotland of the East’ status is restored to Meghalaya,” he said.

The project will run into several crores of rupees, but the Meghalaya chief minister is ready to take up the challenge. Lapang said he is convinced that “there would be several takers to sponsor and even manage the project”.

Lapang had recently announced new initiatives proposed by his month-old government to beautify Shillong town with underground subways at Don Bosco, flyovers and underground parking yards in and around Shillong.

Apart from the Umiam blueprint, the tourism ministry has is trying to develop other places like Cherrapunjee and some parts of the Garo hills.

The Balpakram National Park and Siju wildlife sanctuary in the South Garo Hills top the list of the MDA’s new action plan to promote eco-tourism in a big way in the Garo hills.

The forest department is likely to be asked to do the groundwork before a comprehensive policy is drafted to open up these areas to tourists.