SHILLONG, Nov 5: The state government on Tuesday made it clear that the decision to reopen the road from Mawlonghat to Bimola Junction was a practical one aimed at decongesting the city and has no connection with the current imbroglio vis-à-vis the relocation of residents of Harijan Colony.
“It was a practical decision in view of the traffic congestion and the inconvenience caused to the public for the past six years. I don’t see any link between that and the relocation of the sweepers,” Cabinet Minister and MDA spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh said.
“The signal being sent for the past six years was that things were not in order and that the area was a trouble zone but today we have removed that image by normalising movement of pedestrians and vehicles in that area,” he said.
Pressure groups have alleged that the road reopening is a tactic adopted by the government to divert attention from the main issue of relocation.
