SHILLONG: A law student of North-Eastern Hill University has threatened move the High Court against the State Government for its failure to repair broken roads in five border villages of East Jaintia Hills.
Kynjaimon Amse and his friends have said their repeated requests to the Government have fallen on deaf ears.
“We will soon go for an agitation against the Government for its failure to repair the road in spite of requests and reminders and will hit the streets of Shillong if required. We will also take legal recourse before the High Court of Meghalaya,” Amse said in a media statement.
The five villages are Hinguria, Huroi, Lailong, Baskuna and Lejri.
Amse said he wanted to meet the Minister in charge of PWD (Road), Martin Danggo, to press for the demands but has not got an appointment.
He said he had asked for an appointment two weeks ago.
The activist also said among other unfulfilled demands, one is the repair of Borkhat-Sonapur Road.
“The Borkhat-Sonapur road as stated earlier is a kutcha road and is in a bad condition and not motorable,” he said and added that two proposals worth about Rs 64 crore are lying in the PWD chief engineer’s office for approval since 2016 and another worth Rs 97 crore is in the North Eastern Council office for approval since 2012.
He criticised the Government for not giving funds for the projects.
Politicians’ apathy
Amse blamed the apathy of public representatives to address the problems in the border villages for the residents’ plight.
In January, Amse had written to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) about the lack of development of in the villages.
NHRC then directed the authority concerned to take appropriate action within eight weeks and inform the complainant about the action taken.
The office of the deputy commissioner of East Jaintia Hills sent a report to Amse saying two villages, Huroi and Hingaria, were under the central solar energy scheme.
It also said Lejri and Lailong would also be electrified under the off-grid system and construction of 33 KV line and 11 KV line through Kuliang, Borsora, Leijri, Lailong, Huroi and Hinguria was under process.
The report also mentioned anganwadi centres, among other schemes, for these border villages.
With regard to mobile connectivity, the district administration had said the matter was taken up with the general manager of the Telecom Department.
A combined water supply Scheme for Huroi-Hinguria and Lahalein water supply scheme for Lailong were also on the list.
Amse thanked NHRC for reacting to his complaint.
Lauding DC M.S Lhuid, he said it was under him that most of the district officials have visited these villages.
No PHC
Amse stated that another demand that remains unfulfilled is that for primary health centres in these villages.
The report by the district administration showed that the Umkiang PHC with a sub-centre at Huroi would cover these five villages.
