SHILLONG: Congress candidate from Mawsynram constituency, HM Shangpliang has slammed the local MLA and KHADC CEM, PN Syiem alleging that the constituency has remained totally neglected for the last ten years.
HM Shangpliang on Thursday said that the roads in many areas of the constituency was in terrible condition while many areas in the constituency reeled under power cut for months.
“People often go to the MLA for help but the MLA only assures and never helps them,” he said while adding that a village known as Dholai Bhawal did not have electricity for as long as 8 months till the last Christmas.
Castigating the MLA over poor roads, he said that a village known as Synteng, just 4-5 kilometers from Mawsynram, was still inaccessible though the area was well-known for bamboo crafts adding that a person met with an accident in the same area when his vehicle recently fell down into a gorge besides. Two children also died there.
“There has not been any infrastructure development in Mawsynram and even fund under MLA development schemes has not come in a proper way,” he said, adding there are few villages like Nongshluit, Kynshluit where sick people are to be carried on a chair for two hours to Mawsynram Hospital.
He also said that the constituency did not have even one single good hospital except the Mawsynram Hospital while there was not even a single ambulance as the local the MLA, unlike the MLAs from other constituencies, did not care to provide ambulances to the people of the constituency.
He also said that the road condition in border areas was pathetic and even the Dangar Ryngkhu road which is the lifeline for the people, is in bad condition, adding that there is total shortage of water in many areas with no tubewells and people still drink water from whatever available ponds after filtering it.
“I can only say that there was total lack of interest on the part of the MLA to work and he was disconnected with people,” he said.
Responding to a query as if it would be tough to defeat a sitting legislator, he said that he would leave the matter to the people of the constituency who will give their reply on February 27.
It may be mentioned that the Mawsynram constituency is set to witness a direct fight between the Congress and the PDF.
While the PDF candidate and sitting MLA, PN Syiem feels that Congress candidate HM Shangpliang requires more experience to defeat him, the latter has been attacking the sitting MLA over the lack of development in the constituency.