The heavy rainfall that Meghalaya has been experiencing in the last week or so has had an effect on important roads and highways, many of which have been flooded, blocked by landslides or even washed away.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who holds the Public Works Department (Roads) portfolio, said today that he has instructed concerned departments and engineers to be alert to any damage or blocks and restore connectivity immediately.
However, control of national highways is not within his remit, though he can advise the central government bodies of areas that need work.
Concerning the latest landslide at Rngaiñ, Tynsong said that he has instructed National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) officials to be alert and that labourers and machineries should be available 24/7 so that whenever there is a landslide they can be quick to remove the debris.
“As far as national highways are concerned, it is not under the control of the state government. The Guwahati-Jorabat highway upto Sonapur is handled by NHAI (National Highways Authority of India), which is controlled by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. We are in touch with them to be proactive to ensure that movement of traffic is not hampered,” Tynsong said.
Meanwhile, the retendering process for the Shillong-Dawki road project is still ongoing, he informed. The state government has handed over all the land required for the first package of the project to the NHIDCL, except for defence land.
