Locals divided over Wahkaji road project

NONGSTOIN: Locals who attended the public hearing on the Wahkaji road project on Tuesday were divided over approval to the construction work.
Five speakers from each group, one in favour of the project and the other against it, were allowed to voice their concerns and views by the district administration that conducted the hearing at Mawthungkper Upper Primary School, Kynroh in West Khasi Hills.
Those speaking against the project were apprehensive because they believed that the road project “is meant for facilitating uranium mining” and the government’s move to scrap uranium mining “is a way to fool the people of the state”.
The local villagers who support the road project said road development in the area is required since they are facing lots of difficulties due to bad road connectivity. They added that a PIL has been filed in the court by the JAC in this regard.
“We opposed uranium mining but the road should not be closed because it is for public use and we don’t have to talk about uranium mining as the hearing is specifically stress on the road project” Chairman Synjuk Headmen of Lai Lyngdoh, Korne Kharbani said.
The report on the hearing will be sent to the government.