SHILLONG: The multi-crore Mawthabah-Wahkaji road which was sanctioned with the aim of connecting uranium mining sites in West Khasi Hills is presently lying in shambles with local residents now smelling a ‘scam’ since only 4 km of the total 20 km road was blacktopped since the construction of the road began in 2006.
The road project funded by Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) is being executed by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.
Sensing a probable scam, general secretary of Kylleng-Pyndeng Sohiong Uranium Land Owners’ Association, Heasdiengland Lyngdoh Sangriang told reporters on Friday that the project sanctioned during the tenure of H.S. Shylla as Chief Executive Member in 2006 is yet to be fully completed.
The UCIL had fist released over Rs. 20 crore for the road and later released another Rs. 20 crore, Sangriang claimed. Initially, the villagers were allotted works for earth cutting, but the work related to black topping were awarded to contractors, mostly from Shillong, Sangriang said, adding that out of the road length of 20 km only 4 km of the road was blacktopped.
“We urge the UCIL not to release more funds without carrying out proper inspection of the road,” he said.
On behalf of the association, Sangriang asked the contractors to complete blacktopping of the road by December considering the urgency of the matter in view of an upcoming Church function.
He also put forward the villagers’ demand for a high-level probe into the delay in the completion of the Mawthabah-Wahkaji road.