SHILLONG, Nov 6: The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the National Highways Authority of India to repair the “very badly damaged” portion of the NH-6 between Jowai and Ratacherra within two months.
The directive was based on a PIL regarding a stretch of 102.255 km of the national highway, which is a lifeline for Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
The bench consisting of Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh went through the report of Suraj Panthi, Amicus Curiae appointed for this public interest litigation (PIL).
The court observed that the photographs annexed to the report show some portion of NH-6 in a severely damaged condition, so much so that it would be impossible for vehicles to pass. But the report does not mention the location of this portion, it said.
S Sengupta, the counsel appearing for the NHAI submitted that if this location was indicated, he could have instructed his client to take immediate suitable measures.
Panthi was requested to immediately inform the NHAI about the location and approximate length of this part of the damaged highway.
Further to the orders of the court, the NHAI also filed a report.
The photographs of the NHAI report, however, showed that extensive road construction, repair, and maintenance work were undertaken by it on the stretch of NH-6.
The damaged portion of the 102.255 km stretch, as pointed out by Panthi, is about 45 km. The NHAI’s report indicated the damaged portion is about 5 km. It said a 2 km stretch of the highway has been strengthened by undertaking bituminous work, 7 km of drains have been constructed, and “reinforcement binding for 5 km of drain construction” is in progress.
“We have no doubt that the NHAI has every good intention to carry out our order. However, we are constrained to remark that the pace at which the work is progressing is rather slow. In those circumstances, we direct that the very badly damaged portion of the section of the highway stretching about 5 km as stated above should be repaired or reconstructed by NHAI within two months of communication of this order. Within two weeks of communication of this order, emergency measures have to be taken by NHAI so that till the regular work is carried out, the said part of the highway is reasonably pliable by vehicles,” the court said.
The high court also directed that the rest of the 45 km should be completed before the onset of the next monsoon, within five months from the date, adding the authority should ensure that work done is of such quality that it is not easily damaged by rain and other weather conditions in future.
