SHILLONG: The residents of Ladrymbai in East Jaintia Hills have expressed concern over the negligence of the PWD Minister in addressing the problems faced by the people with regard to the bad conditions of NH-44 especially along the Ladrymbai stretch.
According to the Rangbah Shnong of Datsimpien Ladrymbai, Ti Pahoh, it has been years since this particular stretch of NH-44 has seen black topping. The present condition is no better than a road for an off-road adventure.
“You name what you get in an off-road adventure and you will get it right here on NH-44 Ladrymbai stretch. It is regrettable indeed,” he said.
The haphazard manner in which the road is repaired with stone chips and earth does no good to the people travelling along the road, whether pedestrians or vehicular movement, Pahoh said adding that pedestrians become targets of stone chips rather boulders, ready to slip and shoot from tyres of heavily loaded lorries.
“Glasses of shop (those that have installed them) crumble and fall when these stone chips shoot at lightning speed. Injuries have taken place when tyres of these heavily loaded trucks burst with stone chips flying in every direction,” he stated.
He also stated that the earth laid on top of these stone chips have done equal havoc adding that the earth, now turned to dust, penetrates every nook and corner of houses of the residents.
“The food sold in the market gets contaminated and becomes unfit for consumption. The air we breathe and live in is 24*7 damaging,” he added.
“Well, who suffers this bane? Not the privileged class in power. The sufferers are we the ‘aam aadmi’,” added the Rangbah Shnong.
Terming this attitude of the government as a step-motherly attitude, Pahoh said, “This neglect reflects that we are not fit for proper governance.