The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a member of the coalition government running the state, today criticised the woeful condition of roads throughout Shillong.
“From morning walkers to school children, office goers to casual shoppers, any commuter in Shillong has long faced the problem of bad roads,” it said in a press release.
The problem is felt “all over Shillong” but especially in areas like Nongthymmai, Garikhana and Demseiniong, the party said, adding that police were forced to make temporary repairs to roads themselves rather than waiting for the Public Works Department to fix them.
“With the festive season right round the corner, the plight of the people is only set to worsen,” the BJP added.
The state party vice-president, Wankitbok Pohshna, has thus asked the state government to take immediate action so that the common citizens “can focus on revelries rather than negotiating potholes in their localities.”
Pohshna stated, “We understand that in a state which experiences one of the highest rainfalls in the world, maintaining roads is indeed a huge task. However, with holistic planning for quick remedial action, this public botheration can be minimised and even brought to a permanent end.”
“At the BJP, we believe that a contingency fund should be set aside for immediate round the year repair of roads that have been damaged by time or by actions of nature,” he added. “It is surprising that even with the availability of resources the concerned department is yet to come up with a proper maintenance plan wherein such minor repairs could be taken up immediately and long meandering administrative procedures be permanently discarded for such jobs. If small repairs are not carried out instantaneously the problem is allowed to fester, the consequent cost of repair work becomes a burden on the government’s coffers – as the proverb goes: a stitch in time saves nine.”
Pohshna also said that the BJP, being a member of the government, is ready to work with all partners to ensure a better and improved Meghalaya.