MAWKYRWAT: Acknowledging the stand of majority of the people in South West Khasi Hills on uranium issue, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday said the Centre has agreed to remove ‘Domiasiat’ from a road project in the district.
“I am happy to inform you all that the Government of India and the NHICL, which is looking after the road project, have agreed to remove Domiasiat from the whole project and therefore the road is only from Mawkyrwat -Wahkaji to Ranikor,” Sangma said at an official programme here.
There was protest from several quarters, especially from pressure groups, for linking the road with uranium mining.
The chief minister said during the meeting with Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in Delhi recently, around 30 projects in the state were reviewed.
“The Mawngap-Weiloi-Mawkyrwat road was also taken up and we have told the Government of India that this is a very critical road. We have only stressed on the importance of road from Mawkyrwat to Wahkaji and not beyond (Domiasiat – Mawthabah area where uranium deposit is located) you all know what I mean… I saw one word (Domiasiat) and I have told them (the Centre), please delete this word because most of you don’t like it and I also don’t like it and we managed to delete that word,” Sangma said.
Stating that road connectivity is a top priority of the MDA government, Sangma said the Ranikor-Maheshkola-Baghmara road project is in the right direction even though there are hurdles that need to be cleared by the Forest Department because the road passes through the dense forest of Balpakram National Park.
“I am very much aware of the problems in road connectivity in this district and I have travelled myself from Mawkyrwat to Ranikor. I know the importance of this road and we need to improve it.
“Once road connectivity improves, economic condition of the people will change,” he said.
Calling upon the people of the district to protect the environment, the chief minister said improving the living condition of people is not only the job of the government but also the task of every citizen.
“I am so worried and very concerned about the pollution that we cause in the rivers. It is a very dangerous situation that the vegetable and other food items we take are polluted. We need to have a sense of ownership and believe that this is my river and my land,” Sangma said.
