The ongoing work to extend the life of the Umiam Dam Bridge could be completed by May, the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd (MeECL), Sanjay Goyal, said today.
“We are planning on finishing the repair and rehabilitation works maybe by the end of May,” Goyal told Highland Post.
The CMD said that the repairing of the dam is going as per schedule and there have been no delays even as he added that such works do require some time since rehabilitation has to proceed technically and be done as per the schedule given by the experts.
“We can’t expedite it beyond a certain amount since it requires technical and specific work,” he added.
The dam dates back to the middle of the 20th century and is showing signs of severe wear and tear. Repairing it requires drilling, grouting, strengthening and all of this is being monitored by experts.
Goyal personally monitors the schedule so that there is no over spilling. “Our schedule is that we should finish it by May end, as per the original plan. As of now there is no delay and I am hopeful that we should finish it within the time,” he added.
The CMD also informed that presently only light vehicles are plying over the Umiam bridge except in certain cases depending on a case to case basis when some inter-state buses are allowed keeping in mind the inconvenience faced by the public.
