Nongstoin-Wahkhaji road project bid

SHILLONG: The National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has invited bids for the upgradation of Nongstoin-Wahkhaji road to two-lane and the due date is March 8, according to the NHIDCL status report.
The 43.06-km road is to be taken up at a cost of Rs 265.91 crore and M/s Chaitanaya Projects Consulting Pvt Ltd will implement the project.
However, the upgradation of Wahkhaji-Phlangdiloin-Ranikor (30 km) and Domiasiat–Mawthabah road (5 km) to two-lane is not making much progress. The status report said the final DPR has been submitted by the consultant to State PWD and the branch office received it last March.
However, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has not issued NOC for the project, adding that forest clearance and utility shifting will be done after receipt of the final DPR from PWD. The project is to be taken up at a cost of Rs 259 crore.
NGOs have been vehemently opposing the two road projects fearing that these are to facilitate uranium mining. The KHADC too has made it clear that it would not issue NOC due to opposition from the NGOs.
Meghalaya is the third uranium-rich state in the country after Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.
The state accounts for 16 per cent of India’s uranium reserves with deposits estimated to be around 9,500 tonnes and 4,000 tonnes, respectively, at Domiasiat and Wahkhaji.