From Our Correspondent
Williamnagar, May 12: Residents of the village of Karubibra under Samanda Block in East Garo Hills (EGH) have made multiple complaints to their BDO as well as the Deputy Commissioner of EGH over a 51.5 metre road that was earlier built under MPLAD scheme.
The road in question is a jeepable kutcha road that connects the village of Karubibra to Nengmandalgre and was constructed at a cost of Rs 2 lakh.
The aggrieved residents complained, as is the norm with MPLAD schemes, were not consulted when the project was being approved leading to them ruing a missed opportunity for a development that they could have shaped differently.
“We were not aware of the jeepable kucha road that was being constructed and only came to know about it after the sign board was put up. When we inquired we found that the construction was done by the contractor Dimchangchirim K Sangma under the guidance of Enok Marak, Junior Engineer of Samanda C&RD Block.
The villagers added that a meeting was convened on the matter at the residence of the Nokma where both the contractor and the JE were called. “The constructed road is not used by the villagers and we proposed to construct the road from Karubibra to the main road that is used by the villagers as the main transportation route which is now in a deplorable condition,” stated the complaint.
The villagers stated that during the meeting, both the contractors and the JE assured them that they would begin work on the proposed road in Nov, 2024. However till date nothing concrete has been taken up despite the promises made.
“The road which has been constructed makes no sense and that is why consultation with us was a requirement. The complete project is a waste and we just want to ensure that development that is meant for us makes some amount of impact for us – the end user,” felt Swellesh Sangma, Nokma of the village.
The villagers expressed frustration that they contacted the BDO with their complaint along with meeting the engineer and contractor. They also met the DC but till date, no one has made any purposeful move to ensure the promises made to them, were lived up to.
“We were very happy that the scheme had come to our village but are unhappy that we were not consulted. We are also unhappy that despite assurances, we are still being denied something that is meant for us. We hope the authorities will ensure our grievances are heard and worked on,” stated the Nokma.
