The wooden bridge at Wah Lyngdoh located at around 21 kilometre from Nongstoiñ is on the verge of collapse.
Initially, the bridge was weakened by the digging of the foundation for construction of a new RCC bridge. This forced headmen of Maweit area to take up the matter with the Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills in October urging him to halt movement of timber and coal laden trucks in order to save the bridge.
According to Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Maweit Area (SNSMA) adviser T Tyrsa though a request was made to the Deputy Commissioner to issue an order under Section 144 CrPC prohibiting overloaded trucks from plying over the bridge, the district administration has not done anything on the matter.
He said hundreds of timber and coal laden trucks continue to ply over the bridge every day.
Tyrsa said the bridge is likely to cave in anytime and thus cut off vehicular connections with around 40 villages in the area.
“The area near the bridge is very narrow and there is no possibility for the creation of a subway,” Tyrsa said in a statement.
Further, he said that continued movement of timber and coal laden trucks has caused impediment to the construction of the new RCC bridge as construction machineries have to make way for the movement of loaded trucks.
Villagers were also dismayed as despite the orders of the Meghalaya High Court prohibiting the movement of illegal coal, the illegal transportation of coal continues unabated in West Khasi Hills.
“The MDA government is denying the existence of illegal transportation of coal. But the fact is that coal laden trucks are moving every night on a daily basis on the Nongstoiñ–Shillong road and Nongstoiñ-Riangdo-Hahim road,” Tyrsa said.
He also expressed surprise over the silence maintained by pressure groups and political parties on the illegal transportation of coal in the area. “If this is the case, the people of our area would one day rise up to fight against this act of lawlessness,” Tyrsa added.
