SHILLONG, JUNE 19: The state government today assured aggrieved residents of four villages along the international border with Bangladesh in East Jaintia Hills District to address the various problems faced by them especially in term of road connectivity.
The assurance was made by the chief minister Conrad K Sangma to a delegation of villagers led by social welfare minister Kyrmen Shylla, who is also Khliehriat legislator, after a meeting held here on Tuesday.
The villagers hailing from Hingaria, Huroi, Lahaleiñ and Lejri village under Sutnga-Saipung Assembly constituency in East Jaiñtia Hills District has sought the personal intervention of the chief minister to ensure their long pending demands are fulfilled.
At present, the above villages are connected by a muddy road, about 60 km from Sonapur, a village along the national highway-44, and around 185 km from Shillong, the state capital.
In view of the bad road connectivity in the area, over 5,000 residents of these villages are depending at the “mercy of Bangladesh” for healthcare and other services.
The delegation demanded the government to immediately take up metalling and blacktopping of the Borkhat-Sonapur road without further delay and setting up of a primary health centre in any of the four villages besides supply of drinking water and electricity.
According to them, in the absence of such facilities in the area residents were forced to take patients illegally to a nearest health centre in Bangladesh by crossing the porous border for the sake of saving lives.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, a young representative of the villages Kynjaimon Amse said that the nearest primary health centre is located at Umkiang village which is along the national highway-44.
He said it would take residents of the four villages five hours to reach the PHC and market at Umkiang village but only 10 minutes walk to reach Bangladesh.
“We have been living on the mercy of Bangladesh for many years. We know it is illegal, but the people have no option but to often rush to Bangladesh to meet their medical needs. Many precious lives have been lost due to absence of proper medical care and due to long distance from the nearest PHC,” Amse said.
Expressing concern that with the border fencing has stared in the border areas and that it will become more problematic to the people, he said, “Hence, we want the government to start repairing this road.”
When asked, Amse informed that the chief minister has assured the delegation led by the minister that the matter will be taken up with the concern department and necessary action will be taken.
By Our Reporter
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