By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government has rejected the fears that the ongoing four-laning work on the Jorabat-Umiaw stretch of NH-40 would be scrapped by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) if the ongoing controversy is not solved at the earliest.
Talking to media persons here on the project, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma stated that NHAI is only the implementing agency of the project and the Ministry for Road Transport and Highways is authorized to scrutinize the progress of the project.
Fears were raised by the NGOs of Ri-Bhoi that the project may be cancelled by NHAI due to the new proposal for re-aligning the four-laning at Umsning instead of the earlier Bypass proposal.
Pointing out that the work for the project is going on the Chief Minister asserted that the Government will be engaged in complete monitoring to ensure that the project is completed within the time limit.
According to Dr Sangma, roads are vital for making Meghalaya the number one tourist destination in the North East and the four laning is a must to boost the tourism sector of the state.
“We have already asked officers to engage the stakeholders and NGOs for discussions to solve the issue at the earliest,” he added.
Reacting to a query about the demands of the NGOs, he said, “The Government wants to listen to the demands of the NGOs and we will examine it and this issue was also raised in the Assembly.”
The NGOs in Ri-Bhoi are opposing the move of the State Government to construct the road through the existing Umsning road and they have also been demanding to hold talks with the Chief Minister himself on the issue.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) has already called for night road blockade along the arterial National Highway connecting Guwahati and Shillong and a day-long Ri-bhoi bandh in protest against the State Government’s decision to build the four-lane highway along the existing highway at Umsning.
“Everything is not important for the Chief Minister to talk as there are different levels of talks and the NGOs must have confidence on the officers,” Dr Sangma added while reacting to the queries on the demands of the NGOs.