NONGPOH: The Pahammawlein Area Development Committee consisting of headmen from 20 villages has objected to the ongoing construction of the weighbridge at Narang village in Ri Bhoi.
The leaders of the committee, president CT Nongrum and secretary T Namsaw, in a letter to the deputy commissioner, said the site is a residential area and coal-laden trucks will create pollution and disturbances.
“As witnessed in the past, incidents like altercation, fights, drinking of alcohol and shouting of unpleasant words are common at weighbridges. We fear that installing of the weighbridge here will create a hostile situation and unsafe environment for the residents, particularly women and children. Who will take responsibility if anything happens to the residents,” the letter stated.
Further, the letter also stated, as noticeable from the ongoing construction, there is no road leading towards the weighbridge but the existing PWD road of Narang village is being occupied and misused for it, which is in violation of the state roads norm.
It is also clearly instructed by the National Highway Authority of India that any structures or points which obstruct traffic should not be erected within the radius of 1 kilometer from the Toll Plaza, whereas this weighbridge is being constructed just within a distance of 500 meters from the Toll Plaza which is also in clear violation of the NHAI norms.
In this connection, the Committee urged the district administration of Ri Bhoi to immediately stop the ongoing construction and further shift the weighbridge to another suitable place.
