Shillong, Jun 8: The Meghalaya High Court was told today that landslide prevention work along the Jowai-Ratacherra stretch of National Highway 6 will take another six weeks.
Hearing a public interest litigation on the status of the highway, which suffers from periodic landslides and road deterioration, a division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh received a fresh status report on the highway up to June 5.
The said report included annexed photographs evidencing the works carried out i.e., micropiling work; retaining wall, so as to prevent landslide etc.
At the last hearing, the court directed the state government to fill potholes along the stretch of road. However, the Additional Advocate General informed the court today that the road is being maintained by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corp Ltd (NHIDCL) and not the state Public Works Department. The High Court has directed the registry to take steps to implead NHIDCL as party respondent in the PIL.
The counsel appearing for NHAI sought six weeks to complete the whole process of micropiling, retaining wall, etc.
“Presently, we deem it appropriate to grant time of three weeks. Fresh status report to be submitted by the NHAI on the next date,” the court stated.
