The Meghalaya High Court has directed the authorities to ensure that National Highway-6 is maintained and remains in good condition throughout the year.
The division bench of the High Court was hearing a PIL by Kynjaimon Amse on the condition of NH-6 and Jowai by-pass.
“The highway is a crucial link to the south-eastern part of the North-East and has to be maintained in good motorable condition throughout the year,” the High Court said.
During the hearing, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) stated that some of the stretches between Jowai and Khliehriat need to be repaired and that even the Sonapur tunnel requires some repair work. According to NHAI, the contract is about to be issued and the work is expected to be completed by the end of July, 2023.
The High Court said that it would have been better if the work had been completed prior to the heavy rains setting in. “However, since it is too late in the day to expect the work to be completed over the next week or so, NHAI should ensure that extra care is taken that the repair work undertaken in the midst of rains is not immediately washed away,” the court said.
The High Court also directed both the NHAI and the State government to report on the progress on either stretch at the next hearing slated for June 21.
On the points raised by the petitioner (Amse) that debris from landslides that have taken place several months back on the Malidor to Ratacherra stretch have not been cleared yet, the High Court directed the NHAI to look into the matter and ensure that the debris is cleared and the necessary repair work undertaken at the earliest.
The High Court also took note of photographs published in Shillong newspapers over the last couple of days indicating the treacherous condition of the Jowai by-pass despite the repair work apparently having been completed by the State PWD (Roads).
Even the petitioner has carried photographs to demonstrate that the repair has not even lasted a couple of days.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the poor condition of the repair work on Jowai by-pass, the High Court said that bitumen is water-soluble and heavy rains may affect the road conditions, “yet all this has happened before the monsoon has set in”.
“Further, it can be no excuse, particularly given the heavy rains in this part of the country during the monsoon, that the roads will remain unmotorable during the rainy season. The repair work has to be undertaken keeping in mind the weather and climatic conditions and the extent of rainfall that the road has to endure,” the court said.
The High Court also asked the State government lawyer to meet senior officials of the State PWD (Roads) so that the matter can be taken care of before the actual onset of monsoon.
