SHILLONG: Meghalaya Governor Banwarilal Purohit has directed the North Eastern Council (NEC) to hold a meeting and furnish a report pertaining to the grievances faced by four villages of East Jaintia Hills within 10 days.
A delegation of residents of the district had met the Governor on Monday apprising him of the bad road condition and absence of primary health centres in their villages located on the India-Bangladesh border.
On the same day, the Governor had taken note of the grievances faced by the villages – Huroi, Hingaria, Lailong and Lejri – and directed the NEC to follow up and assist the state government.
The letter stated they are to inform the Governor of the action taken by them.
As per papers furnished to him, the Governor stated that the PWD (roads & buildings), Special Works Branch, had submitted a DPR to the NEC way back in February 2011 for an amount of Rs 97.93crore.
Earlier, a portion of the project was taken up with the assistance of the NEC as Phase I with a sanction of Rs 41.31crore.
He said the DPR for Phase II of the project had not been sanctioned by the NEC for an amount of Rs 97.93crore and that necessary clearance from the Forest department was awaited for a stretch of 4.22 hectares of reserve forest through which the portion of the road had to pass.
Pointing to serious issues that have an impact on national security, he said he he had been informed by the delegation that Bangladesh currency was legal tender and that people were forced to trade their commodities at throwaway prices.
“This is a serious matter and questions the very root of our sovereignty and our shameful inability to take care of the interest of our citizens,” the Governor said.
