PMGSY roads hang in balance in East Kameng

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, Jan 9: The fate of many roads sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yoja (PMGSY) in Bameng block of East Kameng district is hanging in balance due to poor implementation, alleged public leader of the area Vijay Som. Interestingly, Bameng Assembly Constituency is represented by BJP MLA Kumar Waii, who is powerful RWD and Home Minister in the present BJP government. In a representation to the Director General (NRRDA), Ministry of Rural Development, Som, who also is the general secretary of state BJP, claimed that many roads sanctioned under the flagship programme to provide road connectivity to remote and iccessible villages of Bameng block were left half done while construction of many are yet to start.

He claimed that the portion of road from Pakke to Waii, which was supposed to be completed before 2009, is still at the stage of formation cutting. Even, the works of formation cutting have not been fully completed till date.

The road project from Pakke-Lada to Rawa has two components and one part of the road from Pakke to Waii (12m) was taken up under NEC during 2005-06, he said.

The second stage work of the 12 km road funded under NEC is yet to start whereas, the fund has been utilized, alleged Som.

On the other hand, Som said, “Waii to Rawa PMGSY road was taken up during 2013-14 under PMGSY. But, from the sanction order of the Ministry, it has come to our notice that sanction for Stage-II of Pakke-Lada road to Rawa has been accorded. This is going to be duplicacy over the NEC road from Pakke-Lada road to Waii village. This matter needs to be sorted out before giving a green sigl for start of the said work project,” Som said in his representation.

“There was a PMGSY project to connect Sapew village but the project has been left somewhere in the jungle without connecting Sapew village,” Som claimed, while informing the status of road from Jomoh to Sapew.

The status of the road needs verification and it should be ensured that Sapew village got connected by road practically but not just in paper, he said.

Likewise, the road from Khenewa to mpe (under mpe-Sario project) and Koio-bolang are also yet to be completed. Moreover, one bridge of 50-mt span over Sibi River is also yet to be constructed, he said.

Som urged the Director General (NRRDA) to take serious note of the facts of the road projects and to ensure that the project for which sanction has been accorded are completed in all respects to provide road connectivity to the rural areas.

He also said that the tender for next stage should be held up till the completion of the works and monitoring team should be deputed immediately to verify implementation of the road projects.

Som also urged the DG to involve the public of concern areas during the visit of NLMs to the project sites.