Nongstoin-Wahkaji-Mawthabah road: Uncertainty looms
SHILLONG: A delegation of pressure groups called on the KHADC CEM here on Monday reiterating their opposition to the Nongstoin-Wahkaji-Mawthabah two lane project.
The delegation under the banner of the Joint Action Committee of Social Organization, South West Khasi Hills (JACSO) urged the CEM, PN Syiem to refrain from taking any hasty decision on the issuance of NOC to the companies dealing with the project.
The pressure group members led by JACSO chairman, Wallambok Syiemiong, and secretary, Robertjune Kharjahrin, also submitted a memorandum in this regard.
“The people are being misled by the company and the contractors who say that the road project was not meant to facilitate uranium mining,” Syiemiong told reporters.
“According to the notification issued on July 5, 2010 by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway, (MoRTH) Government of India the construction of the two lane road from Nongstoin-Pambriew-Wahkaji-Mawthabah sanctioned by it, through the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North East (SARDP-NE) was meant to facilitate Uranium mining in Mawthawbah area,” he claimed adding that the pressure groups were not against development and were opposing the project since it was related to uranium mining.
Syiemiong said that the KHADC CEM has informed that the committee constituted by the ruling-PDF to examine the project is yet to come out with its report.
The KHADC CEM added that the council was open to the views and suggestions of the pressure groups.
Meanwhile, Kharjahrin expressed surprised over the intention of coming up with a two lane project in a village which has a population of only 20 households.