JNC airs concern over damaged bridge in EJH

JOWAI, Feb 13: The Jaintia National Council (JNC) Sumer Circle, on Tuesday, raised objection to overload truckers plying on an iron bridge known as Ri Manar bridge located at Samasi village, Elaka Sumer, East Jaintia Hills, owing to its poor condition.
In a statement, the JNC said, “The iron bridge is lying in a pitiful condition.
Due to the long-term disrepair, the bridge floor and bridge girders pose a danger all the time with screws and bolts unfastening day by day owing to the continuous overloaded trucks.”
The Council has asked truckers to immediately stop plying on the bridge or decrease the load. It also appealed to the people of Elaka Sumer to work together on the matter as the bridge is crucial to them.
The JNC had earlier moved the concerned department seeking the repair of the bridge, but to no avail. It claimed that the life of the bridge was 20 years, but it has lived for 40 years now. Asking the trucks to carry the prescribed load of up to 9 tonne, JNC president Sakilan Chyrmang said the Council will not let overloaded trucks to pass.