The Meghalaya High Court has today directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to indicate the measures to be taken for repairing all the highways which run through the State, particularly since the recent monsoon rains has damaged most of them.
The court also asked the NHAI to provide a rough time-frame for the repair work of the highways particularly in respect of the stretch between Lumshnong and Malidor in the East Jaiñtia Hills district which is now in a deplorable condition.
The division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Kynjaimon Amse, a resident of Umkiang.
In his PIL, Amse stated that a large section of National Highway-6 which connects the northern part of Assam to the south-eastern part of Assam through East Jaintia Hills is in very bad condition. He also complained about the dilapidated condition of the highway from Lumshnong to Malidor.
Recently, East Jaintia Hills was lashed by heavy pre-monsoon rains that resulted in several landslides and parts of NH-6 were also closed to traffic for several days.
Some temporary measures were taken to reopen the arterial road and regular maintenance works are being undertaken. However, the ongoing monsoon has impeded the work being taken up on a speedier basis.
The High Court has listed the matter for hearing on September 29.
