M?laya HC hears PIL filed by JAC

TWO LANES ROAD ISSUE

From A Correspondent

SHILLONG, April 5: The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday heard the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Joint Action Committee on Two Lanes Road Nongstoin.

During the hearing, the counsel for the respondent Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC)asked for some time to complete his instructions, particularly in relation to the clarifications by the state’s Public Works Department (Roads).

The clarification was sent by the Chief Engineer, Public Works Department (Roads) tiol Highway, Government of Meghalaya, Shillong on July 27, 2016 stating clearly that the purpose of laying the road in question was essentially to provide connectivity and all round development of the area.

Public Works Department (Roads) stated that this road was not to be linked with any particular activity.

The High Court while allowing the plea permitted KHADC to file further affidavit, particularly with reference to the affidavit filed by the state government.

It may be mentioned that the PIL has been filed essentially bringing to fore a sorry state of affairs of a road the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways under Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North East had sanctioned for the upgrade of two lanes stretching from Nongstoin-Wahkaji-Domiasiat-Mawthabah.

The PIL also submitted that a substantial project of this ture, which is to help all-around development of the State, has got stuck causing gross injustice to the inhabitants of Nongstoin-Mawthabah areas for no valid reason whatsoever.

As per the PIL, for the said project, about 91.153 percent of land had been acquired by the Government and the construction work was also awarded but, the construction could not be started due to certain objections by the KHADC.