The PWD (Roads) today filed a status report before the Meghalaya High Court indicating the steps that have been taken to mitigate the damage caused to the Myntdu River due to the construction of Jowai By-Pass.
During today’s hearing by the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew and Justice B Bhattacharjee, the observation report on the matter was submitted to the court by Amicus Curiae P Yobin.
Advocate General Amit Kumar while apprising the court about the steps taken to mitigate the damage caused to the Myntdu River also referred to the status report and also the photographs enclosed to show that adequate steps have now been put in place to arrest any further damage being caused to the river.
In view of the matter, the High Court requested Yobin to make a personal inspection to the Jowai By-Pass accompanied by affected landowners in the vicinity, specifically paddy field owners and also the concerned officials from the PWD (Roads), National Highways Division as also the West Jaintia Hills district administration.
The court also said that a convenient date for the inspection may be worked out by Yobin and the inspection should be completed before October 18. The next hearing on the matter will be held on October 21.
Recently, the Meghalaya High Court has pulled up the State PWD for the rampant manner in which the Jowai By-Pass is being constructed including the dumping of soil and debris into Myntdu River.
As per the status report filed recently in the court, the length of the Jowai By-Pass spans at a total of 5.915 km for which a substantial amount of Rs 9358.66 lakh has been sanctioned for execution of the project.
As per the status report, there is abject neglect by the contractor and the Executive Engineer, PWD (Roads) in giving due consideration to the damage that is being caused not only to Myntdu River and its surroundings but also to the valuable paddy cultivation of the villagers.
Large scale destruction of farmlands in Pynthorneiñ, located near the Myntdu River has been reported due to dumping of mud and debris from the construction of the bypass from Khliehtyrshi to Tre Iongriang.
The project that runs over 6 km to connect the NH-44 has also been the cause of ruining the Myntdu River which is a major source of water for Jowai residents.
Farmers said earth moving from the ongoing road construction is a growing problem, and coupled with incessant rains all the road construction debris have now covered their sown rice.
