SHILLONG, NOV 19: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma assured that he would soon review the Jorabat-Umiam four-lane project implemented by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) which has come under severe criticism because of erratic and slow pace of work.
Sangma assurance came after a delegation comprising members of Khasi Students’ Union – North Khasi Hills District Unit and the traditional heads of different villages located along the stretch of the Jorabat-Umiam National Highway-40, met him on Wednesday.
The delegation has also submitted a 15 point charter of demand and recommendations to the chief minister.
“The chief minister has assured he would soon convene a review meeting on the project and that he would look into recommendations submitted by us,” KSU-NKDU president Ferdynald K Kharkamni told reporters after the meeting.
One of the main concerns raised by the union and the traditional heads was the unscientific execution of work that resulted in loss of precious lives because of landslides and other irregularities in the construction of the Jorabat-Umiam expressway, Kharkammi said. He informed that the chief minister agreed that the concerns of the union were justified and reasonable.
Kharkamni said, “The chief minister also assured that he would direct the chief secretary to look into issues raised by them immediately and submit the report to him.”
On the issue relating to the safety of the public, Kharkamni said the chief minister assured that the construction of pedestrian crossing and flyover at Nongpoh and other busy areas would be taken up for inclusion in the fresh DPR. He said, “According to him, in most of the road constructions the welfare of the pedestrians has never been taken into consideration.”
Kharkamni said over 35 villages along the stretch of the four lane project have been affected due to the erratic and delay in the completion of the project.
Some of the demands put by the union in the memorandum includes – employing of an independent company or agency by the NHAI to inspect road safety measures and work execution methods, to minimize unwanted accidents, setting up of emergency helpline, ambulance facilities besides others.
Kharkamni said, “We have also demanded the state government form a joint inspection team with the NHAI and construction companies and the headmen to identify the damaged roads and footpaths, damaged water supply pipes, affected agricultural land and irrigation canals for repairing and reconstruction wherever necessary.”
Kharkamni said the construction companies should acquire work permit for its non-local workers besides giving first preference to locals in term of employment in tollgates, sites, offices. He also said the union urges the authorities concerned to find alternatives to speed up the construction works.- By Our Reporter
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