From Ronald Syiem
NONGSTOIN: With the blacktopping work for a road project sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) pending for over 12 years now, a visit to the office of the sanctioning agency in Delhi revealed that the project was declared complete by the State.
Blacktopping of the Langja-Tynghor stretch in West Khasi Hills has been pending for 12 years now even though the project, under PMGSY, Phase-II (2001-2002), was already sanctioned by the Centre.
Rambrai Jyrngam MLA KP Pangniang told The Shillong Times that he had raised the issue of the pending construction of the PMGSY road from Langja-Tynghor over three times in the Assembly but to no avail. Later he met the chief engineer overseeing the PMGSY road projects only to be told that funds meant for the construction of the road have not been sanctioned by the Centre.
Dejected, Pangniang traveled to Delhi to meet the Director (Technical), National Rural Road Development Agency (NRRDA), IK Pateriya to ascertain the reason behind the delay in completion of the project.
“I was shocked to see the report of the NRRDA which showed that all the PMGSY Phase-II projects have been completed in Meghalaya including the Langja-Tynghor road. In the report sent by the State Government the blacktopping for the Langja-Tynghor stretch was shown complete,” Pangniang said adding that the State Government had committed a mistake owing to which none of the PMGSY Phase-II road projects in the State were completed.
After being apprised of the facts, Pateriya issued a 10-day deadline to the Chief Engineer to submit the DPR, especially of the Langja-Tynghor road.
He also assured Pangniang to sanction the funds at the earliest after receiving the relevant documents.
Pangniang added that Pateriya promised to sanction other roads under PMGSY Phase- 7 which include Malangkona-Athiabari (6 Km), Nongjri-Misei (7 Km), Rambrai-Mawrok (8 Km), Mawdoh-Nongthymmai (6 Km) and Mawlangsu-Nongriat (5 Km) projects.
Meanwhile, Pangniang also met the general manager of Holtec Consulting Pvt. Ltd. Gurgoan, in relation to the two-laning of the Nongstoin-Rambrai-Kyrshai stretch.
The general manager of the Holtec Consulting Pvt. Ltd. Gurgoan who prepared the DPR of the two laning project assured the State MLA that he will submit the final DPR to the government within June.