The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has said that a new contractor has been engaged on September 29 to undertake repair operations of National Highway-6 spanning from Sonapur (km 141+500) to Ratacherra (km 171.455).
The NHAI filed its status report dated October 3 before the division bench of the Meghalaya High Court today during the hearing of a PIL on the matter.
The report also stated that the existing contractor has been required to undertake repair work from Jowai (km 69.20) to Sonapur (km 141.50). Details have been mentioned regarding filling the potholes, drain-cleaning in Khliehriat, the repair of damaged pavements and, particularly, attending to the Sonapur tunnel area.
Some photographs have been enclosed with the report, indicating the nature of the ongoing repair work.
“It is hoped that the work undertaken is as good as the report so that the misery of the citizens in the locality and the trauma that the vehicles on the relevant stretch of NH-6 go through are alleviated, if not altogether removed,” the High Court said.
However, Kynjaimon Amse who filed the PIL produced photographs from the NH-6 stretches near Mynkre village, Tongseng village, Sonapyrdi village and Lumshnong village, apparently taken on October 4, which revealed the abysmal condition of the roads with large potholes and with no sign of any blacktopping in such stretches.
Shocked by the condition of the roads as shown in the photographs, the High Court said, “This is completely unacceptable in a civilised country and it is a shame that the court has to remind a Central body as the NHAI as to what its duties and responsibilities may be. As it is, the terrain in the State is difficult to negotiate and far flung areas wait for supplies and essentials. This supply chain is completely disrupted by the poor conditions of roads, particularly of the nature in the Jowai-Ratacherra stretch of NH-6.”
The High Court also expressed hope that the repair work is completed to make the entire stretch from Jowai to Ratacherra more navigable within the next month or so.
“Work of more permanent nature should be taken up shortly thereafter. No road or highway in the country can ever be allowed to be reduced to the state as in the present stretch of NH-6 from Jowai to Ratacherra,” the court said.
The High Court also said that local officials of the State government ought to have reported the matter well in advance to the higher authorities in Shillong for NHAI to be persuaded to ensure that the road was in better condition and not reduced to the pitiable state as evident from the photographs produced by the petitioner.
“In addition to NHAI reporting on the work undertaken and completed, the Deputy Commissioner of the East Jaintia Hills district should file an independent report as to the status of the relevant stretch of NH-6,” the High Court said.
The court also directed the State government to complete the repair and renovation of the Jowai Bypass within the next four weeks, now that the monsoon is petering out. The next hearing on the matter will be held on November 6.
