The broken RCC bridge at Shymplong, which connects border villages in East Jaiñtia Hills, is now undergoing repairs sans sanction, which is pending with the office of the PWD chief engineer.
On May 16, due to heavy rain, the bridge number 54/1 was washed away, putting about 8000 villages in the area to untold hardship because the bridge connects to six remote villages of Shymplong, Lejri, Huroi, Hingaria, Lahalein and Borsora in the extreme corner of the district.
Source said an amount of Rs 1.9 crore was estimated to completely renovate the dislodged bridge. Yet pending office sanction has prompted the PWD Khliehriat to urge the contractor to keep the work afoot to enable residents to cross over and alleviate their sufferings.
Confirming this Executive Engineer, M. Kharnaior said the department is pushing for sanction even as they have requested the contractor to continue with the work. He said so far the contractor has spent Rs 50 lakh from his pocket.
Kharnaior said though work has been continuing at a slow pace due to rain and availability of the construction materials, which is yet to reach from Kolkata, he was positive that the bridge will reconnect the villages.
Waheh Shnong of Shymplong, Apstolin Syih has urged the government to address their problems by speeding up construction of the bridge.
