JOWAI: The 72-hour bandh and road blockade called by 17 Dorbar Shnongs under Narpuh Elaka has badly affected vehicular movements along the stretch of the National Highway NH-44 from Mynkre to Malidor.
The first day of the agitation, the 12 dawn to dusk bandh on Wednesday affected business activities along the National Highway. The road blockade which will be effective in the next 48 hours will badly affect vehicular movements in the area.
The National highway that link Barak Valley, Tripura, Mizoram and part of Manipur wore a deserted look on Wednesday.
The bandh and the road blockade was called by the irritated villagers led by village elders from 17 village under Elaka Narpuh in East Jaintia Hills District.
On the first day of the agitation, men, women young and old as well as school children came out together and blocked the road at Tongseng (Narpuh) village.
As part of their agitation, some villagers have also demonstrated by fishing on the middle of the road that was covered by muddy water.
Speaking to media persons, Chairman of the Dorbar Dong NamChiang and Rangbah Shnong of Tongseng village, Atiar Bamon informed that they were forced to take a drastic step to call for agitation programs in protest against the adamant attitude of the state government to repair the deplorable highway.
“Member of the Elaka represented by the Dolloi and headmen of the area had several meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, the Chief Engineer and other PWD officials but the only outcome is only promises.
The demand to repair the road began in 2013 and agitation program were decided but the same was called off on the assurance from the District Administration. Recently, the Dorbar Elaka called for an indefinite road blockade and after the EJH DC informed the elders of the Elaka that a sanction of Rs 25 crore had been received and the repairing work will immediately start, the proposed road blockade was called off but the road was never repaired till date.
A magistrate, RS Manner who also arrived at Tongseng informed the villager that the repair of the road will start immediately and the contractor supposed to bring all his machineries later refused to do so due to the bandh. She requested the protestors to call off their agitation so that the contractor could start the work.
However, the villager and village elders told the Magistrate to bring first the machineries and start the work following which, the bandh would be called off immediately.
Sonapyrdi headman, JS Lamare, informed that they will continue with their agitation program unless the governments repair the road.
“We have decided that after the 72-hour agitation program, we will organize a public meeting on Saturday at Umkiang village to decide the next course of action”, Lamare informed.
