Coal laden trucks plying along the Maweit-Nongstoiñ road have become a disruption for workers involved in construction of the 23 km road and wreaked havoc to lives of villagers, who now fear that commuting will be a nightmare during the monsoon.
A villager who wants to remain anonymous told Highland Post that the stretch has become a muddy mess as excavators doing the construction work and six-wheeler coal laden trucks together have formed mud trenches that have become marshy and slippery.
What concerns the villagers is the illegal transportation of coal when road construction is on a full swing. “Every day we have 60 to 70 six-wheeler coal laden trucks transporting coal from Porkhadoh, Pyndengshalang and Thadtija,” a villager said.
Residents of the area said about 30 villages are dependent of this road and are facing immense problems especially for those who travel in light motor vehicles. “The shape of already dug-up road meant for construction is getting worst and with the movement of coal laden trucks, we will not be able to travel anymore when monsoon showers begin,” the villagers said.
The Maweit-Nongstoiñ road was first initiated by the Assam government in 1964-65. Last year the government sanctioned for its construction under the Meghalaya Integrated Transport (MITP) funded by the World Bank.
