Umiam curbs: Safety matters more than inflation, says govt

SHILLONG, Nov 6: The restrictions on the movement of heavy vehicles along the Umiam dam-cum-bridge stretch have resulted in price rise but the state government has prioritised safety over inflation.
Stating that this is a temporary situation, Cabinet Minister Paul Lyngdoh said, “It is a question of safety versus price rise but to us, the safety of all road users passing through Umiam is fundamental.”
He said the government has plans for the expansion of the road network bypassing the Umiam Lake to address the issue but it will take time.
“What is more basic is our concern for the safety of all road users as this is not limited to Meghalaya. It links us with the rest of the Northeast,” Lyngdoh said.
Stating that inflation has to be controlled immediately, he said Food and Civil Supplies Minister Comingone Ymbon recently held a review meeting on the issue.
Ymbon admitted that people are facing hardships due to the restrictions at Umiam bridge site.
“I am trying to convince the chief minister to hold a meeting of all the departments related to price rise. Our department alone cannot do everything. The Police, Transport, Fisheries, Veterinary, and Agriculture departments have to get together and discuss the problem,” the minister said.
Asked about immediate measures to address the issue, he said, “The price monitoring system has been activated in each and every district. You can check through the dashboard. The prices are uploaded on the website”.
The restrictions at Umiam have led to a 40% increase in transportation cost from Guwahati to Shillong. Earlier, trucks carrying commodities were allowed to proceed straight to Shillong from Umiam but after the government enforced the curbs, they are required to travel an extra 80-90 km, from Umiam to Mawryngkneng and then to Shillong.
Requesting anonymity, some transporters said the increased transportation cost is responsible for the rising prices of commodities in Shillong.
Prior to the retrofitting work, all heavy vehicles could use the Umiam bridge to go to Shillong. But after the dam’s repairs, the weight limit of vehicles along the stretch has been restricted to 9 metric tonnes. This system has been in place for the last three months.