SHILLONG, May 1: A tragic and devastating landslide at Rngain, East Khasi Hills, resulted in two deaths and rendered the road dangerous, but it has now been declared safe to travel.
Riwar Mihngi Exporter and Miners Association has been assisting in clearing the road and the debris of the April 14 landslide is likely to be cleared by next week.
The operator working with the association has come to the rescue following the request by the district administration after the employees of the Odisha-based company, ARSS Infrastructure Projects Ltd, which was implementing the Phase-II of the Shillong-Dawki road project, was unable to remove the boulders on the road.
Speaking to a section of reporters, president of the association, Ribanroilang Lyngdoh, said that they are helping in clearing the debris.
“Now the road is safe to travel. We are expecting to clear everything if we are able to work continuously for the next two weeks,” he said.
Asked if the Odisha-based firm offered widening work of a portion of the road to an NGO under a sub-contract, Lyngdoh said there are rumours on this during rounds in the public.
“But there is no proof that the NGOs were doing the widening of the road. From what we know, there are contractors who have been engaged for widening of the road,” the association president said.
Talking about the process of clearing the road, he said that many members of the association, who are mining lease licence holders and have stone quarries in the area, have been a significant help in clearing the road.
Meanwhile, the president of Riwar Mihngi Exporter and Miners Association expressed disapproval for the attempt to hold the association partly responsible for the April 14 landslide.
He even threatened to sue anyone making such defamatory claims.
“We are mining after obtaining the approval from the government. We are paying all the taxes including cess and GST to the government. We are also paying in advance to the government for reclamation of the quarrying site,” Lyngdoh informed.
He asserted that the association is not conducting any illegal activity, and that it is wrong to drag them into the controversy.
