Major projects in state facing hurdles

SHILLONG, March 31: Major projects such as the Shillong Western Bypass, Package 5 of the Shillong-Dawki road, and the new Dawki bridge are facing multiple challenges.
Sources said there is a dispute between two landowners in a 950-metre stretch of the Western Bypass, although advance possession of the land was given. The implementing agencies are not being allowed to work on this stretch, which is likely to delay the project.
The agencies are facing a similar issue in another stretch of the bypass measuring 78 metres in length. They said the district administration must intervene to ensure that the work is not hampered.
The sources also said there are issues with the construction of the Dawki bridge, as residents are not allowing the implementing agencies to work. It is alleged that the East Khasi Hills district administration has been indifferent to the problem the agencies are facing.
In the case of Package 1 of the Shillong-Dawki road, the PHE Department has allegedly shied away from shifting the pipelines near the 3rd Mile football ground to facilitate the construction work.
It is learnt that the authorities deposited the requisite amount with the PHE Department in 2020 to complete the shifting of the pipeline. “This issue has been flagged several times, but there is no response from the department,” a source said.