SHILLONG, April 16: The State Congress has come down heavily on the NPP-led MDA 2.0 Government for allegedly trying to “protect the culprits” of illegal stone excavation without proper regulation and has demanded immediate transfer of the officers concerned and compensation from the NHIDCL and the government to the families of the two victims.
Two people were crushed to death while nine sustained injuries after a boulder fell on two vehicles, leaving two occupants dead. The other nine people, who made a narrow escape, were shifted to the Pynursla Community Health Centre for treatment.
“The party is demanding immediate transfer of the officers concerned and compensation from the state government, NHIDCL and the mining association to the bereaved families,” Meghalaya Pradesh Mahila Congress president, Joplyn S. Shylla said while extending condolences to the families who lost two of their bread earners in the accident.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Mahila Congress described the remarks of Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong of filing an FIR as nothing but a “smokescreen” to protect the culprits knowing fully well that illegal stone excavation is going on without proper regulation.
“It is funny that the Deputy CM speaks about filing an FIR but the question is against whom? Should an FIR be filed against nature or against stones and boulders that came crashing down”? Shylla questioned.
“Why has the company (ARSS) which has been sub-contracted the road project by NHIDCL with funding from JICA not put up road signage along the entire stretch knowing that there is constant heavy vehicular movement considering the fact that tourists frequently travel through this route,” she observed.
“What is the State Transport Commissioner doing and for that matter the office of the District Transport Officer of East Khasi Hills?” she questioned again.
According to her, the incident has put a question mark on the efficiency of the SDO Civil Sub-Division (Pynursla) and the absolute carelessness of the state PWD department for not adhering to environmental norms.
Meanwhile, when contacted, SDO (Civil) of Pynursla Civil Sub-Division, Evarinia Warjri on Sunday said that she has already filed an FIR at Pynursla police station to inquire into the landslide at Ryngngain near Lyngkyrdem.
“The police will now investigate into this incident to find out what had gone wrong and who is responsible for it,” Warjri said.
She also informed that Odisha-based M/s ARSS Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd, which is implementing the project, will try to clear the road by Monday.
“We understand that this road is the lifeline of the people of Pynursla area. But we cannot push the company to rush since we need to ensure the safety of commuters travelling through this road,” Warjri said.
Earlier on Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister and in charge of PWD (Roads), Prestone Tynsong had said that the district administration will file an FIR into the landslide.
Tynsong said that the investigation will find out who is responsible for the lapses – be it National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) or the company working on this project (ARSS Infrastructure Projects Ltd).
“Action will be taken after the investigation,” he had assured during his visit to the accident site.
The Deputy Chief Minster had also ordered the two NHIDCL engineers, who were present at the site, to immediately bring experts from IIT-Guwahati to study the condition of the soil and the topography of the stretch at Ryngngain before going ahead with the construction work.
Tynsong is slated to hold a review meeting on Monday to discuss the incident.
