Villagers seek Guv’s intervention into delay to approve road project

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 1, 2019

SHILLONG: Residents of villages along the Indo-Bangla border in East Jaintia Hills District have on Saturday sought the intervention of the Governor, Tathagata Roy into the delay of the Centre to approve the proposal for construction of the Rymbai-Bataw-Borkhat-Sonapur road.

Following the intervention of the Meghalaya High Court on the PIL filed by one of the residents Kynjaimon Amse, a detailed project report (DPR) for construction of the road at an estimated cost of Rs 123 crore, was submitted by the North Eastern Council (NEC) to the DoNER Ministry in April earlier this year.

However, till date the proposal is yet to be taken up for consideration by the DoNER Ministry.

A letter to Jitendra Singh, Union Minister (I/c), DoNER Ministry was also submitted by the residents requesting for speedy consideration of the proposed road project for the benefit of the rural population.

Copy of the same was also sent to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, his deputy Prestone Tynsong and Shillong MP Vincent H Pala for their intervention with the matter.

“We met… and apprised him (governor) about the problems faced by the people because of the absence of proper road in the affected areas. We have strongly urge the Governor to intervene on this matter for speedy approval of the proposed project by taking up the matter with the DoNER Ministry, New Delhi,” Kynjaimon Amse said in a statement issued here on Sunday.

Amse informed that the Governor has assured the delegation of appropriate action on the matter and to take up the matter with the DoNER ministry.

On the other hand, the delegation also expressed strong dissatisfaction over the attitude of the Government of Meghalaya led by CM and Dy CM towards this matter of public importance.

They have also slammed the local representatives for failing to utter a word on this matter.

Amse further informed that the Dy. CM during a meeting recently has given full assurance to the delegation that the project will soon get approved but the state government has failed to actively take up the matter with DoNER Ministry for speedy consideration.

“It is in the best interest of the state that Conrad Sangma and his deputy Prestone Tynsong takes up the matter seriously with the DoNER ministry in New Delhi. We will have to go New Delhi ourselves if the state government does not take up the matter with the Union Government,” he said.

Earlier, the High Court of Meghalaya in its last order had sought a response from the Secretary, DoNER Ministry on the status of the proposal.