Night road blockades, bandh announced
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Joint Action Committee (JAC), an amalgamation of prominent NGOs in Ri-Bhoi district, has called for night blockade along the arterial National Highway connecting Guwahati and Shillong and a day-long Ri-bhoi district bandh in protest against the State Government’s decision to build the four-lane highway along the existing highway at Umsning.
The JAC meeting held on Monday decided to call for night blockade on October 13, 14, 19 and 20 from 7 pm to 5 am next day. The JAC has also called for 12-hour Ri-Bhoi district bandh from 5 am on October 21 next.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, JAC member and leader of the KSU, North Khasi Hills, Donkupar Sumer said the decision had to be taken to intensify the agitation as the State Government was apparently not ready to accept their demand for construction of the four-lane highway along the proposed Umsning bypass.
“We have been made to understand by the State PWD Secretary PSG Lyngdoh that the government is firm on its latest decision on the four-lane highway project,” Sumer said. The JAC announced its fresh agitation programmes following its meeting with the PWD Secretary on Monday.
The JAC leader slammed the State Government for ignoring the demand of majority people in Ri-Bhoi district and rued the indifferent attitude of Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma who has not responded to persistent request by the JAC for an audition over the issue.
The JAC alleged that the State Government’s decision on implementing the four-lane project along the existing highway had been influenced by two petrol pump owners who have been lobbying with PWD minister HDR Lyngdoh.
The JAC also accused two politicians who own commercial buildings along the existing highway, of throwing their weight behind the government’s decision to construct the four-lane road along the existing highway to ensure that they could claim huge compensation when their buildings would be demolished for implementation of the project.
New Ri-Bhoi DC
Joint Secretary Education department, Akash Deep, is likely to take over his earlier assignment as the Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi district.
Official sources on Monday informed that Deep has been asked to take charge with immediate effect.
This would be the second time in less than one year that Deep has appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of the district.
It is believed that the present Deputy Commissioner, M Kharmujai, is being transferred on account of his ‘communication gap’ with PWD Minister HDR Lyngdoh.
On an earlier occasion, the PWD Minister, quoting Kharmujai, had informed media persons that the JAC had called off their proposed agitation. However, the PWD Minister was proved wrong when the JAC actually went ahead with its agitational programmes.
When contacted, Deep said he was yet to receive any official communication about his new assignment.