BETASING (Meghalaya), APR 16: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma on Saturday inaugurated an 80-meter long suspension footbridge over Dilni river in South West Garo Hills.
The bridge connects Betasing area along India- Bangladesh border to seven adjoining villages including Banduraja.
The onslaught of rainy seasons meant that these villages, which has about 800 households remained disconnected. The completion of the bridge has fulfilled the aspiration of the people living on the Northern bank of Dilni river.
“Now our children can attend school during rainy season. We will not have to wait for the water to recede to cross over to Betasing”, said an elderly from Banduraja village.
People from the adjoining villages, who had gathered for the inauguration, expressed their joy over the completion, which was a long pending demand.
For all these years, the people had used an alternative route to cross over to Betasing. The completion of the footbridge over Dilni river makes the distance shorter for the villagers.
Betasing, which is a block headquarter is now a walkaway distance.
The bridge is built by Border Area Development (BAD) department with assistance provided under a scheme — Social Infrastructure Development Fund (SIDF 2012-13).
Speaking at the inauguration chief minister Mukul Sangma placed on record appreciation to President Pranab Mukherjee, who as finance minister had allocated a special assistance of Rs 60 crore for taking up such project across the state.
In the last few months, 14 such footbridges were completed along India – Bangladesh and inter-state border area with Assam in Garo hills.
Mukul said that Ampati (constituency which he represents) has witnessed a rise in development index, which was comparatively lower than rest of the state. “My government has ensured that development reaches equally to different parts of the state”, he said.
He also told the gathering that the newly completed road from Tura to Shillong via Rongjeng and Nongstoin would make travel more comfortable as the new road takes six hours to reach Shillong.
Mukul undertook the journey from Shillong to Tura via the new route yesterday to oversee the progress of the road.
The existing road, which was in a deplorable state was completed recently and is set for inauguration. The road was constructed under Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in Northeastern States.
Mukul hit out at centre:
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma today said that centre has failed to understand the mandate of the constitution, which provides equal opportunity for all states to grow and catch up with the rest.
“North East has a complex situation and problem. In the past government at centre had accorded special attention for the growth and development of the region. However, today we are at cross road as centre has reversed the trend”, he said.
Though he did not name Prime Minister Narendra Modi government for the not giving the status of “special category states” to North East but he hinted that the role played by the centre was not in favour of the region.
“Today, we are getting our due share from the centre based on the tax we pay. The centre is not doing any favour”, he informed.-From Our Correspondent
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