Repair or reconstruct the heavily damaged portion of NH-6 within two months: High Court of Meghalaya to NHAI

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 6, 2024

The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to repair or reconstruct the very badly damaged portion of the section of National Highway 6 in East Jaintia Hills of about 5 km within two months.

The order was issued by the Division Bench of the High Court during the trial of PIL No. 11 of 2022 between Kynjaimon Amse (since deceased) versus NHAI and others.

The Court said, “Within two weeks of communication of this order, emergency measures have to be taken by NHAI so that till the regular work is carried out, the said part of the highway is reasonably pliable by vehicles.”

The Court also directed the rest of the 45 km should be completed way before the onset of the next monsoon, within five months from date.

“The authority should ensure that work done is of such quality that it is not easily damaged by rain and other weather conditions in future,” said the Court order.

The Court viewed that the subject-matter of the said PIL is a stretch of 102.255 km of national highway (NH-6) between Jowai and Ratacherra and this highway is a kind of lifeline for Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

During the trial, the Court informed said that they have gone through the report of Suraj Panthi, Advocate, learned Amicus Curiae appointed by the Court in the said public interest litigation (PIL).

The Court observed that the photographs submitted show some portion of the highway NH-6 in a severely damaged condition, so much so that it would be impossible for vehicles to pass but the report does not mention the location of the heavily damaged portion.

S. Sengupta, learned counsel who appeared for NHAI desires for the said location to be indicated so that he could have instructed his client or NHAI to take immediate suitable measures.

The Court directed Mr. S. Panthi, learned Amicus curiae to immediately inform the NHAI about the location and approximate length of this part of the damaged highway.

The Court observed that extensive road construction, repair and maintenance work has been undertaken by the said authority in NH-6. The damaged portion as pointed out by the learned Amicus Curiae is about 45 km out Of 102.255 km.

The very badly damaged portion as indicated earlier covers about 5 km and 2 km of the stretch of the highway has been Strengthened by undertaking bituminous work, 7 km of drains have been constructed and ”reinforcement binding for 5 km of drain construction” is in progress.

The Court said, “We are constrained to remark that the pace at which the work is progressing is rather slow.”
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The Court directed State government to pay remuneration to the Amicus Vuriae ad hoc assessed Rs. 30,000/- by December, 2024. The Court also listed the next hearing of the said PIL on 11th December, 2024.