SHILLONG: The Congress candidate from Mawsynram, HM Shangpliang, has criticised the local MLA and KHADC chief executive member, PN Syiem, alleging that the constituency has been totally neglected for the last 10 years.
Shangpliang on Thursday said the roads in many areas of the constituency are in a terrible condition and there are many areas in the constituency which witness power shortage for months.
“People often go to MLAs for help but the MLA only gives assurances and never helps them,” he said, adding that a village known as Dholai Bhawal did not have electricity for as long as eight months and people got electricity only before Christmas.
Castigating the MLA over poor roads, he said that a village known as Synteng, just 4-5 km from Mawsynram, is still inaccessible though the area is well-known for bamboo crafts, adding that in the same area, a person met with an accident when his vehicle recently fell down a gorge resulting in the death of two children also died there.
“There is no infrastructure development in Mawsynram and even MLA schemes have not come in a proper way,” he said, adding that there are few villages like Nongshluit, Kynshluit and few others where sick people are to be carried on a chair for two hours and taken to Mawsynram Hospital.
He also said that the constituency does not have even one single good Hospital except the Mawsynram Hospital besides there is not even a single ambulance of the MLA unlike the other constituencies where MLAs give ambulances to the people.
He also said that the road condition in border areas is 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 whether it is a tough fight to defeat a sitting legislator, he said that he leaves 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 heading for a direct fight between the Congress and the PDF.
While the PDF candidate, PN Syiem feels that HM Shangpliang requires more experience to defeat him, the congress candidate Shangpliang has been attacking the MLA over the lack of development in the constituency.
