JOWAI: Hundreds of Muskut villagers came out to repair the 4 km long road that leads to their village in the famous Sung Valley in West Jaintia Hills on Saturday.
After several pleas fell on deaf ears, the village Dorbar has decided to repair the road to make it convenient for the villagers to carry agricultural products to the nearby local markets, as the harvest season is approaching.
Muskut village, which is in the remote part of the bordering East Khasi and West Jaintia Hills, has been neglected by the State Government and particularly from representatives of Nartiang Constituency.
“We have been requesting our MLA, Sniawbhalang Dhar, to construct a proper road but all in vain. The MLA had even assured us that he will spend Rs 40 lakh from his own pocket to construct the road, but nothing happened till date,” the Waheh Shnong, Shrak Nongpluh informed.
The Waheh Shnong blamed less number of voters in the village as the reason for representatives not showing interest in constructing the road.
“There are only 60 households in the village with a total population of 500 members and number of voters is less than 200,” Nongpluh said.
Due to the poor condition of road, many lives were lost half way, while carrying them to Jowai or Shillong for medical treatment, the villagers informed.
“Recently, a child died at the back of her mother while on the way to the hospital.” one of the village elders said, adding that a woman gave birth to a baby half way.
Sung Valley is known as Rice Bowl of the Pnars and the Depatment of Soil and Water Conservation has repaired the road from National Highway till Sung Valley, but the road which leads to Muskut village which is 4 km in length has been ignored.
During monsoon, the village is completely inaccessible, during dry seasons vehicle with special gears can reach the village and that helped the villagers to transport their agri-products.
The headman urged the government to help them getting a proper road as road connectivity is the backbone of all-round developments.
