Substandard construction of check-dams in West Jaintia Hills
JOWAI: The Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo people (FKJGP) has strongly objected to the substandard construction of several check-dams at Mynkrem in West Jaintia Hills which were implemented by the Soil and Water Conservation Department, Jowai Division in Mynkrem RVP under RIDF Nabard Loan 2010-11.
On Thursday, FKJGP activists led by its Jaintia Hills District president, Tuesday Lytep along with media persons from Jowai visited four such check dams.
Earlier, the reply to the RTI queries by the FKJGP- JHD Unit revealed that the Soil and water Conservation, Jowai spent Rs. 64.54 lakh for construction of RCC dams, protection walls, CC channels and conservation ponds. Though the RCC dams have the life span of 50 years, the dams constructed over two years ago had collapsed. A dam which was constructed in the name of Lahun Suting and her party three years ago with a total expenditure of Rs. 11.38 lakhs has been damaged and it is believed that it will not last during the coming monsoon.
A farmer, Joinriwel Dkhar who interacted with media persons informed that the dam which was constructed in the name of one Nightwing Dkhar and Joinriwel as one of her partners, in 2013 was completely damaged just in one year.
“We reported the matter to the concerned office and the dam was constructed again. This year again the dam was damaged and I had spent Rs. 6000 to pay for the JCB (Earth mover) to move big stones to defend the dam from being washed away during the coming monsoon”, Dkhar said.
CCIB, BSF meet on border fencing
JOWAI: The West Jaintia Hills district Deputy Commissioner, Arun Kumar Kembhavi held a meeting with leaders of the Coordination Committee on International Border (CCIB) along with BSF Officials at the DC’s Conference hall on Thursday here.
The meeting was attended by senior members of the CCIB including FKJGP president, Joe Marwein, HNYF president, GH Kharshanlor, Secretary and Chairman of the CCIB besides other members along with BSF officials.
The CCIB spokesperson GH Kharshanlor said that the CCIB will not withdraw its stand from the demand that the border fencing should be near the zero line not 150 yards from the zero points.