SHILLONG: The Meghalaya High Court on Friday issued directions to the state government to immediately upgrade the Borkhat-Sonapur road.
Earlier, activist and lawyer Kynjaimon Amse had voiced his concern over the deplorable road condition.
Amse belongs to the remotest area of Meghalaya near the Bangladesh border. He had said the poor condition has compelled villagers to opt for medical facilities across the border, the court said.
“We think such a situation is quite disturbing and a question mark for all concerned. We are informed that there were some proposals for construction/upgradation and repair of road, some Detailed Project Report (DPR) have also been prepared but none of the proposals have so far been accepted much to the disadvantage of the residents of the said area, we are pained to hear the same from a young boy (Amse) who has recently completed his law graduation. We are further pained to hear that a woman for want of timely medical care had breathed her last, attributable to the lack of road connectivity,” the court said.
The chief engineer (National Highway) who was present in the court said he will prepare the Detailed Project Report afresh but he has to take up the matter with the government.
The court directed the chief secretary to hold immediate meeting with all concerned, including the chief engineer and work out the modalities for construction, repair or upgradation of the road from Borkhat to Sonapur.
The order said the decision should be taken by the High Level Committee headed by the chief secretary and work should be allotted to a contractor who can complete the work within three months.
While appreciating Amse for raising his voice, the court said, “We hope in future also he will espouse the cause of the public.”
The matter has been listed again after two weeks.
Meanwhile, the court also took up the issue of several road projects in the state and observed that road connectivity being the lifeline cannot be compromised with or delayed and “it is quite astonishing that despite having issued work orders, contractors are taking their own leisure time”.
“It is a question mark why the contractors are allowed to continue when they are unable to complete the work at the earliest to the disadvantage of the public at large,” the order added.
The chief engineer of the National Highway Division also filed a detailed affidavit where he gave the description and position of various roads and works allotted to contractors and the court issued necessary directions for the early completion of the projects.
