SHILLONG: Ardent Basaiawmoit (HSPDP) hit back at Congress’s Rowell Lyngdoh for the latter’s allusions to HSPDP during a discussion on the Nongstoin-Wakhaji Road project, which is facing opposition from several quarters, in the Assembly on Thursday.
The Mawkyrwat MLA, while participating in a resolution on poor road condition in West Khasi Hills, said the road project has remained a non-starter because some political parties and NGOs are opposing it.
To this, Basaiawmoit intervened under Rule 300 and said, “Though the senior leader is not naming any political party for creating disturbance it implies that he was referring to HSPDP.”
He also said the party was not obstructing any development but it is against uranium mining.
Those opposing the road project claim that the road is to facilitate uranium extraction.
Pushing for the project, Lyngdoh said the tender process is complete but it is awaiting NOC from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council. Stating that the State Government should prevail over the KHADC to issue the NOC, he said if the Council still stands on the way, the government should take other ways to go ahead with the project.
Replying to the resolution, PWD (Roads) Minister M.M Danggo said political parties should be optimistic about the State’s development.
After his reply, the mover of the resolution, Witting Mawsor (HSPDP) said the Congress member should not mix up the issue of road and uranium and that the stand of the party on uranium mining remains unchanged.
