Mawthoh to draw PM’s attention to Jorabat-Umiam Expressway project
NONGPOH: Taking exception to the irresponsible and unprofessional execution of work of the ongoing construction of the much-hyped four lane project in the State, United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator Jemino Mawthoh on Tuesday decided to seek the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a stringent measure to straighten up the affairs of the Jorabat-Umiam Expressway project which is a lifeline for the people of the State, Barak Valley of Assam, Tripura and Mizoram.
The four-lane project is one among several projects announced by the previous Congress-led UPA-II Government, which has failed to meet its deadline.
Construction work on the 62-kilometer-long four-lane highway, christened as the Jorabat-Umiam Expressway, began in 2008-09 and was due to be completed by March 2013, at a total cost of Rs.536 crore. However, with the present pace of work, the Expressway is unlikely to be opened to regular traffic before 2016.
Two days after the fatal landslide at Umling in Ri Bhoi District which claimed one life and caused damages to several vehicles and disrupted traffic flow on the arterial NH-40 for more than 16 hours, Mawthoh paid a visit to the site and expressed grave concern over the unscientific earth cutting and flattening of hillocks along the four-lane project site thereby leading to the unforeseen tale of tragedy that has been causing untold miseries to the people and the commuters.
Mawthoh conducted a spot inspection of the place of occurrence of the landslide and also along the project site from Umiam to Umling on Tuesday morning.
During this inspection, Mawthoh showed sign of dissatisfaction over the ongoing construction of the four-lane road and said that it was not up to the mark as was being expected by the people of the State.
Later, while speaking to The Shillong Times, Mawthoh said that the construction was not in accordance with the prescribed norms or specification and it was being done haphazardly and in a hasty manner thereby posing impending threats to lives and properties.
He also flayed the State Government for playing the role of a mute spectator to the ongoing shoddy construction work for vested interests.
He further castigated the State Government for not inspecting or monitoring the construction work and not complaining to the Union Government about the irresponsible execution of work in the project by the erring companies.
He came down heavily on the State Government for its comments that the construction of the four-lane in the State was progressing in a satisfactory manner without even bothering to carry out any site inspection and failing to take stern action against the implementing agencies.
Ever since construction work began, several lives have been lost and the work is being done without following any standard, norm or specification, Mawthoh stated.