Simsang bridge opening
TURA: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma will be making his second attempt to inaugurate a suspension bridge across the Simsang river in Williamnagar on Saturday, two months after he failed to do so following strong opposition from villagers.
The Chief Minister was reportedly supposed to inaugurate the 175-meter suspension bridge connecting Kosighat in Kusimkolgre all the way to Chachatgre village on June 27th but had to cancel the event after villagers from five villages objected to the move.
He ultimately left Williamnagar after inaugurating the district court in the town.
People from the five villages of Bolkinggre, Chachatgre, Asabibra, Ganingbibra and Ganinggre village employment councils (VECs) had contributed their daily MGNREGA wages for the bridge. Each family had contributed wages of a hundred days of labour for the bridge, beginning in 2011.
They were peeved when news reached them that the inauguration would be done by the chief minister.
“We objected to the inauguration of the bridge by the Chief Minister because we never got any help from politicians all along ) until the construction was completed,” informed Bolkinggre VEC secretary Gretwil Sangma while speaking to The Shillong Times.
He even criticised former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma for withdrawing sanction to the tune of Rs 46 lakh meant for the construction of the bridge way back in 1996.
Purno had withdrawn the amount citing ‘inadequate’ funding and promised more funds later that never saw the light of day.
“Even Mukul Sangma promised to construct a RCC bridge from Baiza A’bagre to Ganingbibra in 2000. He laid the foundation stone and it ended there. The foundation stone is still there for everyone to see,” revealed Gretwil Sangma. “That is the reason we have strongly objected to the presence of politicians and their participation in any inauguration of the bridge,” added the VEC secretary from Bolkinggre who happens to be a member of the Suspension Bridge Construction Committee.
Another committee member and Asabibra VEC secretary Bolwin Momin pointed out that objection to the inauguration of the bridge by a politician was raised by the villagers because of the lack of help during its construction.
“In our most difficult times no one came forward to help us and now that the inauguration is near many are expressing their willingness. So naturally there is bound to be some objection from villagers since earlier too there was opposition to the move,” said Bolwin Momin.
With the inauguration due on Saturday the villagers from the five villages will hold a public meeting on Friday to decide whether to accept or reject the proposed inauguration. “Since some time will be required to convince the villagers we have decided to hold the meet on Friday to get their views across,” informed Momin.