Various deficiencies plague Laitjem village

SHILLONG: Laitjem, around 11 miles from the city, has an unending list of grievances, from non-functioning health sub-centre, water crisis to dumping of debris by the construction company engaged in the widening of Nongsotin-Tura road.
During a visit to the village under Mylliem Block on Saturday, it was noticed that the Government has abandoned the health sub-centre that was constructed in 2013.
The villagers said the Government should have appointed staff in the sub-centre, which is lying unutilised.
The window panes of the RCC building are already broken, besides other minor damages. The villagers have to depend on the faraway Pomlum PHC even for minor ailments.
The village has around 350 households and as many as 30 households have to fetch water from nearby areas due to acute shortage of water. However, water was found leaking from a supply pipe laid down by the PHE.
Some of the villagers have to buy water at an exorbitant rate while others depend on rainwater for daily needs.
Another concern is the reckless dumping of building materials along the road which have already spilled over to the residential areas.
A few villagers said the company had not built barricades properly in some parts of the road to prevent debris from falling onto their houses.
Moreover, the cutting of hillocks has extended to the edge of several houses posing dangers to them.
Accident prone
A child was injured while crossing the road on Saturday.
Though the widening of the road is taking place, the road construction company has not put up any signage to restrict traffic or any instruction to vehicles to go slow. The accident on Saturday is attributed to this.
The residents wanted the authorities concerned to look into their varied grievances.