SHILLONG: Social activist and a resident of Madanrting Block-G, Amita Sangma, has filed a complaint with the Chief Minister’s WhatsApp-based public grievance redressal mechanism on Tuesday to address the water scarcity in the locality.
Concerns have also been raised by the residents as they wanted the local MLA to address varied issues concerning the area.
The people of Lad Wahkdait, Block-G, Madanrting under Nongkrem Constituency, have been regularly facing difficulties, particularly now during the coronavirus pandemic, when one has to maintain cleanliness.
The residents said the MLA is yet to come to their rescue.
They said the MLA visits the place and enquires about people’s plight only during election.
In her complaint, Amita has pleaded for help regarding water supply in Madanrting Block-G where the poor people are facing immense difficulties for want of water.
She complained that there are no water supply pipes in the area and the people have to fetch water from a downhill source where a small thread-like natural spring is flowing causing hardships to them, which becomes dangerous during the rainy season due to the slippery terrain.
The Block-G populace consists of mostly daily wagers who have not received help from any quarters.
Those people who have water connection are also getting inadequate supply – three to four buckets for same number of days in a week – whereas for the majority, there is not even a community water tap as seen elsewhere in the city.
There are also complaints of water scarcity from other areas of Greater Madanrting apart from Block-G.
People from the area also complained that there are no proper footpaths, roads and when people fall ill, they have to be lifted on the shoulders of others.
The inhabitants of Block-G said that the MLA had promised construction of roads and footpaths in the area prior to assembly elections.
The affected people also pointed out that when an MLA gets Rs.2.50 crore per year, there is a need to improve the constituency.
The plight of the residents of Block-G is such that they do not get charcoal for cooking since there is no supply in the prevailing scenario, and when they go to the nearby forests in search of firewood, they are chased away.
The MLA was not available for comments.
