By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Umiam-Jorabat four-laning project which is under phase A of the Special Accelerated Rural Development Programme (SARDP-NE) has achieved 42 per cent progress as of July, 2012 pending completion of land acquisition, forest clearance and shifting of utility process.
This was informed by the Special Works Branch of the PWD after this scribe put up a query through the “Talk to your Chief Minister” facility under the Meghalaya Integrated Information System, a hi-tech system launched by Dr Mukul Sangma last year to disseminate information to citizens.
According to the reply, the total land to be acquired for the project in Ri-bhoi district is 181.97 hectares at an estimated cost of Rs 149.12 crore which has been paid. While 155.13 hectares of land is already in possession of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the pending land of 26.84 hectares is to be acquired in Umsning.
A joint survey for acquiring 27.627 hectares of additional land in Ri-Bhoi to improve road geometrics is in progress.
The controversy over the project lies in the Umsning stretch as the state government now plans to construct the road from Umsning Bypass while the residents of existing Umsning road want the four-lane to be constructed from the latter.
The letter also states that the total land to be acquired in Kamrup metro district is 13.50 hectares at a cost of Rs 17.67 crore and NHAI has already acquired 13.10 hectares. “Approx 0.40 hectares of land on Guwahati side of the bridge at Byrnihat affecting 0.15 km length is to be handed over to NHAI and balance amount to be paid is Rs 2.67 crores,” said the reply which was signed by the Joint Secretary PWD (R & B).
Joint survey for acquiring additional land in Ri Bhoi for construction of toll plaza, truck lay byes and bus bays is also under process.
The forest clearance proposals for the project are under process at Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) office, Government of Meghalaya for clearance from Ministry of Environment and Forest.
Total reserve forest of 0.69 hectares, 0.41 hectares under Sericulture Department and 0.975 under the zoological park are affecting a length of 470 metres, 238 metres and 250 metres respectively.
With regards to utility shifting for the project, out of the Rs 2.56 crores, the implementing firm has already deposited 50 per cent of the cost amounting to Rs 1.28 crores to MeECL for shifting of electric lines and the balance amount will be paid by the concessionaire to MeECL on receipt of completion certificate from the latter on the works already executed. Similarly, an amount of Rs 5.65 crore has been sanctioned for shifting of PHE pipelines and shifting works has already taken up.