Poor road condition, NGOs demand independent investigation

A REPORTER

SHILLONG, Sept 29: Annoyed over the deplorable road conditions of the tiol Highway 44 and Lad Mynska to Myntriang village road in Jaintia Hills a delegation of NGOs comprising of KSU Laskeifi Circle and its counterpart from rpuh Circle along with the HANM Laskeifi Circle demanded that PWD Minister Sngiawbhalang Dhar should immediately constitute an independent to investigate the whole process of construction Black topping and the possibility of malpractice and corruption in the department.

The delegation has demanded that the PWD department should immediately restore the 10km road from Lad Mynska to Myntriang village. They stated that if the concern department fails to comply with their demand, the NGOs will be compelled to stage intensive agitations. “This road was recently constructed and now it has become a road that seems to have been left uttended for more than a decade and this has become an inconvenience to the people residing in the area,” Leaningrad Tariang General Secretary KSU Laskeifi Circle told newsmen here on Tuesday.

He informed that the Special Assistance Scheme allotted for construction of the road from Lad Mynska to Myntriang West Jaintia Hills District falling under Raliang Constituency amounted to Rs. 6 crores which accounted for 10 Km and that the road project was handed over to Hilarius Ymbon to execute it. Interestingly he said that while the Myntriang village road is being constructed the finished road in Lad Mynska is either totally turned into a Dirt-track or the black topping had eroded.

According to him, the bad quality of the constructed road had raised lots of questions on the ability of the contractor, the Design and plan and the Inspections done by concerned Engineers of PWD Jowai North Division.

 Questioning the department concern he said, “How can they give payment to a contractor after he has constructed such a sub-standard road.”

He also alleges that there is a possibility of crimil nexus between Contractor-Officials.

The KSU Laskein Circle had also submitted a complain letter to the PWD Roads, Jowai North Division. The HANM Shangpung Circle and KSU Myntriang Unit had also submitted a separate complain letter to the same authority but till date no concrete solution or satisfactory answer was obtained from the authority for bad condition of the road, re-construction and black topping of the damaged road.

Meanwhile, KSU president rpuh Circle said, “The Minister must know the fact that the condition of NH-44 from Mookyndur to Malidor had been currently in deplorable and pathetic condition with lots of potholes throughout its length and breadth especially in East Jaintia Hills.”

The Minister in-charge PWD has however assured them that he will look into the matter and that the contractor who had been handed the road project will have to take the responsibility to immediately start reconstruction of the road.  

The delegation said that the PWD Minister has also informed them that he will soon call all the engineers who are in-charge of the road project to direct them to reconstruct the road.