The Meghalaya High Court has directed the DONER Ministry to clarify as to why, till date, nothing substantial has been done for improvement of the Sonapur-Borkhat Road situated in East Jaiñtia Hills District, and where exactly the problem lies.
In an order passed today, the division bench of Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder and Justice Hamarsan S. Thangkhiew expressed displeasure with the delay by the North Eastern Council (NEC) to approve and sanction the Detailed Project Report (DPR) on this road project. The order was passed by the court on the miscellaneous public interest litigation filed by a resident of Borkhat village, Kynjaimon Amse.
According to records available in the High Court’s file, as far back as November 20, 2019, a stand was taken by the NEC, that on receipt of the proposal from the Public Works Department (PWD), Government of Meghalaya, the NEC, forwarded the matter for sanction of necessary budget to the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER), Government of India, New Delhi.
Since the lawyer representing the NEC, sought time to take instructions in the matter and almost one year three months’ time has elapsed since November 20, 2019, the High Court directed the Registry to immediately communicate a copy of this order to the Secretary, Ministry of DONER, Government of India, New Delhi (who has been impleaded as respondent No. 4, in terms of the order dated 20th November, 2019) to clarify as to why, till date, nothing substantial has been done for improvement of the Sonapur-Borkhat Road.
The court will hear the matter on February 23.
The deplorable condition of the Sonapur-Borkhat Road has largely affected the livelihood of the villagers residing at the edge of the Indo-Bangladesh border.
Residents of Hingaria, Huroi, Lahalein, and Lejri villages have been moving from pillar to post to draw the attention of the authorities in the State government and the Centre to construct the road for many years but their pleas have always fallen into deaf ears.
