The Rngain landslide that claimed two lives was caused by the wanton illegal stone quarrying and government’s apathy to repeated warnings.
This was felt by almost all residents of Pynursla and commuters who frequent the Shillong-Dawki road.
Two people were crushed under huge boulders triggered by a landslide on April 14 and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who also represents the area, was quick to visit the site the next day.
“He blamed in all on the road construction company. Was he not responsible for it?” a resident of Pynursla questioned. The onus is on the Deputy Chief Minister because he was blind to all the boulder excavation works.
Residents pointed out that the monsoon is yet to set in, but the first sign is already evident. They said the landslide was not triggered by road construction nor by rain but by the wanton excavation works too.
“The road construction was done without proper planning putting our lives in danger. It is surprising that even the government was not far-sighted,” a resident of Wahlyngkhat, Bikonia Sutnga said.
She said the Deputy Chief Minister is in the know of things because he hails and belongs from the area. “It is time that we the people should speak out and open the eyes of the government that such incidents will not happen in the future,” she added.
It may be mentioned that the Deputy Chief Minister had ordered the district administration to file and FIR and also alleged failure of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) for the landslide.
The Mahila Congress said this was nothing but a “smokescreen to protect the real culprits.” The Voice of the People Party (VPP) said the government is indirectly holding the road construction companies responsible in its bid to shield those involved in illegal stone quarrying.
