Leaders of the Ri-War Mihngi Local Dorbar have served a 20-day deadline to the State government and the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to start construction of the Pynursla-Dawki stretch of Shillong-Dawki road failing which they have threatened to move the Meghalaya High Court.
The headmen who thronged the regional office of the NHIDCL office in Shillong today shouted slogans and displayed placards condemning the failure of the NHIDCL to repair the deplorable road conditions especially the road beyond Pynursla.
Speaking to media persons after meeting officials of the NHIDCL, the headmen said that even though the corporation has assured to take steps to start the road project they will not remain silent if this does not happen within 20 days.
They said that the NHIDCL has ignored the deplorable roads for years and at present the transportation cost beyond Pynursla areas has skyrocketed sky high and potholes have put commuters in great inconvenience and hit the economy of the people.
“The NHIDCL keeps fooling us with promises after promises and has not done anything for the past three years,” one of the headmen said adding, “If nothing happens within 20 days, we will file a PIL in the High Court.”
The headmen also lambasted Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong who is also in-charge of PWD for failing to do his duty as far as the road project is concerned.
“He is our local MLA but if he has no responsibility towards the people of his constituency then he better resign,” they added.
Meanwhile, Tynsong today said that he was happy that the headmen along with NGOs came forward to protest against the NHIDCL.
“I am so happy that the headmen along with the NGOs came up and showed the protest which is good and even I support that,” Tynsong told media persons today.
He also said that he had had hundreds of meetings with the NHIDCL regarding the Pynursla-Dawki stretch of the road.
Claiming that even the State government is not happy with functioning of the NHIDCL, Tynsong said that even in Assam a lot of complaints have come from the public about the failure of the NHIDCL.
“The State government had earlier wanted all the four packages of the Shillong-Dawki road to be completed on time and see that NHIDCL and the contractors take their work seriously and start work as soon as possible. I will call a review meeting and discuss the matter,” he added.
