NGOs threaten agitation over NH-44 condition

SHILLONG: Three organisations from Jaintia Hills – All Jaintia Youth Welfare Organisation, KSU Jaintia Hills District Unit and FKJGP Khliehriat Circle – have threatened to resort to agitation if the Government fails to immediately renovate or repair the stretch of the arterial NH-44 in Jaintia Hills which is in a dilapidated, deplorable and dangerous shape at present.
“We have no other alternatives but to pressurize the government to immediately repair or renovate the said stretch of the highway which is the life-line of almost all the seven North Eastern States of India which is at its worst condition between Jowai and Malidor area,” AJYWO president MH Dkhar said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Dkhar condemned both the State Government and the Central government for the present condition of the highway by saying that they have not been potent enough to take care to improve the condition of the National Highway and have been parsimonious towards the betterment of the highway for the welfare of the intra-state and inter-state commuters.
“Many a times due to the very bad condition of the highway vehicles have broken down and brought traffic to a stagnant position gravely affecting the movement of  commuters. The worst affected ones are those in need of medical attention and have to ply along the highway to Guwahati or to Silchar for urgent medical care,” the AJYWO chief added.
The AJYWO president pointed out that between Sonapyrdi and Malidor section, most of the black-topping of NH-44 has been completely washed out and huge pot holes have surfaced with big sharp boulders springing out all along the highway rendering the highway unfit even for horse-carriages to ply through.
He stated that NH-44 is of paramount importance, being the back-bone of all the seven North-Eastern States.
Dkhar also said that the deplorable and dangerous shape of the highway has been badly affecting the daily life, socio-economic and other important and normal activities of the public in all the seven North-Eastern States.
He reminded that the highway has been in bad shape for years, since the time it was abandoned by the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF).