SHILLONG, June 13: The High Court of Meghalaya has taken strong exception to the treacherous condition of the Jowai Bypass despite the repair work apparently having been completed by the State PWD (Roads).
Continuing the hearing on a PIL filed by activist Kynjaimon Amse, the bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh took note of photographs published in the newspapers and others submitted by the petitioner which demonstrate that the repair has not even lasted a couple of days.
“While it is appreciated that bitumen is water-soluble and heavy rains may affect the road conditions, yet all this has happened before the monsoon has set in. Further, it can be no excuse, particularly given the heavy rains in this part of the country during the monsoon, that the roads will remain unmotorable during the rainy season. The repair work has to be undertaken keeping in mind the weather and climatic conditions and the extent of rainfall that the road has to endure,” the court observed.
The court also took note of the status reports filed by the state government pertaining to the Jowai Bypass and by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) pertaining to the rest of NH-6 between Jowai and Ratacherra.
The court directed Additional Advocate-General Khalid Khan to meet senior officials of the PWD (Roads) so that the repair work can be taken care of before the actual onset of monsoon.
The NHAI submitted that some of the stretches between Jowai and Khliehriat and the Sonapur tunnel need repair and the contract for the same would be issued soon to ensure that the work is completed by the end of July.
In its reaction, the court said, “It would have been better if the work had been completed prior to the heavy rains setting in. However, since it is too late in the day to expect the work to be completed over the next week or so, NHAI should ensure that extra care is taken that the repair work undertaken in the midst of rains is not immediately washed away.”
When the petitioner pointed out that debris from landslides that occurred on the Malidor-Ratacherra stretch have not been removed, the court ordered the NHAI to ensure that the debris is cleared and the necessary repair work undertaken at the earliest.
“The highway is a crucial link to the south-eastern part of the Northeast and has to be maintained in good motorable condition throughout the year,” the court said while directing the NHAI and the state government to submit a report on the progress on either stretch when the matter is taken up for hearing on June 21.
