Union demands re-sanction of Weiloi-Mawkyrwat-Rangblang road
SHILLONG: The KSU South West Khasi Hills (KSU-SWKH) is contemplating to resume their agitation to pressurize the Meghalaya government to re-sanction the Rs.27 crore project for up-gradation of Weiloi-Mawkyrwat-Rangblang road.
“We have been agitating for two months. We will soon meet to decide on resuming our agitation,” KSU-SWKH general secretary Forward Nongrem told newsmen after a meeting between Chief Secretary PBO Warjri and a delegation of the Union here on Thursday failed to break the deadlock.
Informing about the details of the meeting, Nongrem said, “The Chief Secretary failed to give a clear picture of what the State Government intends to do with the project. We were told that the Government will look into the matter seriously. On our part, we still maintain that the Government should retain the project,” he said.
Nongrem alleged that a Kolkata based firm – Hindustan Steel – had brought machineries to start the work on the road project in 2011, but they suddenly disappeared in 2013.
The KSU-SWKH president also said that they had inquired of the matter from the PWD Minister on two occasions and later found that the project had been dropped on the instruction of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
The Union further went on to say that their only intention was to ensure that the road project saw the light of the day.
“The government is free to introduce any kind of scheme it likes but all we want is a proper road system,” it said adding, “All we want is assurance from the government side that it will give us a proper road system.”
The Union further castigated Deputy Chief Minister and Mawkyrwat legislator Rowell Lyngdoh for not doing his duty in following up on the project and claiming that the matter was pending with the Planning department.
It may be noted that the 40-km Weiloi-Mawkyrwat-Rangblang road which was projected to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.27 crore is one of the 45 projects under the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) which was dropped on September 13, 2013, based on the recommendation of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma during the 118th meeting of the NLCPR Committee.