The Meghalaya government cannot do anything about the awarding of a roadworks contract to ARSS Infrastructure Projects Ltd in Garo Hills as the work was allotted by the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong explained today.
Last month Tura MDC Bernard N Marak wrote to the Chief Minister to ask why ARSS, which was removed from the Shillong-Dawki road project, has been allotted work in Garo Hills. The question came on the day a dumper truck belonging to the firm struck a boy, causing him severe injuries.
ARSS had its contract for the Mylliem to Pynursla stretch of the Shillong-Dawki road project terminated by the NHIDCL last year. At the time, Tynsong said that this was due to poor progress of work, as well as complaints about the company’s performance. In April last year, two people lost their lives in a landslide in Rngain along the route.
Today, Tynsong said that the work on National Highway 51 was being implemented by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) through its agency, the NHIDCL.
“The state government cannot do anything on this as our responsibility is only to hand over the land to the NHIDCL,” he said, while adding that he is not aware if the implementing company is actually blacklisted or not.
He suggested that the Tura MDC go to New Delhi and meet the concerned person in the central government for further details on the matter.
