From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: The villagers of Nongkhlaw, Byrki area and fifteen other villages in the vicinity are left high and dry when their dream of having a bridge was shattered.
The government had sanctioned Rs 42 lakh for construction of a single lane bridge over Jyrhap river in 2001. The fund was received after ten long years in 2011. The fund was later allocated to the implementing authority DRDA.
Recently, the construction of the bridge did kick off but the single lane bridge was down- sized to a foot bridge.
Meanwhile, after visiting the construction site, members of several NGOs namely HANM and the RUPA, sought intervention of the Deputy Commissioner, West Khasi Hills and stop the construction of the foot bridge immediately.
The Project Director of the DRDA West Khasi Hills, W Nongsiej ,meanwhile, said the entire amount was deposited into the account of the Project Implementation Committee formed by the villagers of the area. The chairman and secretary of the Committee were R Kharbangar and H K Thabah respectively.
Surprisingly, two headmen Robita K Bani of Thyrnang Khmahjah and Ismail K Bani of Mawkhmah Tyngkoh, who are also members of the Committee, did not have any clue about the fund.
Meanwhile, Nongstoin legislator Hopingstone Lyngdoh asked the Deputy Commissioner to take stern action if there is any misappropriation of fund.