Nongstoin: A dilapidated road and lack of proper lodging are the main obstacles to tourist inflow at Nongkhnum river island, about 14km from here and around 107km from Shillong, in West Khasi Hills.

Nongkhnum, formed by the bifurcation of the Kynshi river into the Phanliang and the Namliang, is the second biggest river island in Asia after Majuli in Assam. A beautiful sandy shore, a lake, huge areas of grassland and four waterfalls are some of the major attractions.

In 2015, the Meghalaya tourism department started work on building homestays and a restaurant at an estimated cost of Rs 96 lakh, besides carrying out a beautification drive on the island. The aim was to provide employment for locals through the project. But the work is yet to be completed.

Shining Marthong, secretary of the Nongkhnum Area Integrated Village Cooperative Society, said, "Due to the bad condition of the road, it takes an hour from Nongstoin to reach the island. Hence tourists inflow is sporadic. Sometimes 50 tourists come on a single day, usually between September and March, while on most other days there are no visitors. The project started by the tourism department is yet to take off."

Marthong, however, lauded the efforts of former deputy commissioner S. Kharlyngdoh for development schemes like building of the footbridge connecting Disyiang village to Nongkhnum. "I hope the tourism department will ensure better facilities for visitors in the future," he said.

West Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Arunkumar Kembhavi said work was on to provide final touches to the homestays and the restaurant. He said the facilities would be ready by December and operated on lease by one Forwardstar Marngar.

"We will host tourists from Assam and Bengal in the coming days," he said.