Residents of Hingaria, Huroi, Lahalein and Lejri villages in East Jaiñtia Hills have urged the State government and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to vigorously pursue with the DONER Ministry for speedy approval and sanction of the project for improvement of Sonapur-Borkhat Road.
In a statement issued here, the Joint Action Committee of the Dorbar Shnong of Hingaria, Huroi, Lahalein and Lejri expressed their concern with the “adamant attitude” of the Central government to accord approval of the proposed road project under the North East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS).
The Meghalaya High Court had on February 18 informed by way of affidavit by the Chief Engineer PWD (Roads) that the Meghalaya government has approved and issued work orders for temporary restoration of Rymbai-Bataw-Borkhat-Sonapur Road worth Rs. 74.33 lakh. The purpose of this project is to make the present dirt road temporarily motorable while awaiting for sanction from the DONER Ministry for approval of the Rymbai-Bataw-Borkhat-Sonapur Road project worth more than Rs. 130 crore.
The High Court also expressed serious concern about the delay on the part of the North Eastern Council (NEC) and DONER Ministry to apprise the court about the status of the proposal for road construction in the border villages including Hingaria, Huroi, Lahalein and Lejri. The High Court has asked the Secretary of DONER Ministry to clarify and explain as to why till date, nothing substantial has been done for improvement of the Sonapur-Borkhat Road situated in East Jaintia Hills District, and where exactly the problem lies on the next date of hearing being February 23.
Meanwhile, Raja L Suchen, the secretary of the JAC of the Dorbar Shnong of Hingaria, Huroi, Lahalein and Lejri has welcomed the sanction accorded by the State government for temporary repairs of the road.
“However, unless the main proposed project is approved the road condition will remain the same. The temporary repairs will only help for a few days and weeks and once the monsoon season sets in again, the problem will remain the same. It is expected that all such temporary repairs and restoration should be done in the most proper manner,” Suchen said.
Suchen also said that due to the adamant attitude of the Central government to accord approval of the proposed scheme under NERSDS, the JAC of the three villages is contemplating to organise a road rally against the government soon if there is a delay in according approval of the proposed road project.
“The JAC will pursue the matter more diligently with the government for a speedy solution to the problems of the people,” he said.
It may be noted that the Dorbar Shnong of the four villages – Hingaria, Huroi, Lahalein and Lejri have formed the JAC to pursue the demand for road construction in the villages for the good of the people in the villages.
