From Our Correspondent
Mawkyrwat, Nov 29: Irked by the silence of the deputy chief minister to meet, the National Highway Demand Committee (NHDC) South West Khasi Hills on Saturday threatened to take another step if he refuses to meet them.
The NHDC South West Khasi Hills has expressed surprise over the lack of response from the Deputy Chief Minister in charge of PWD, Prestone Tynsong, even after the committee had requested an audience with him to discuss the desires and dreams of the people of the district for a National Highway connecting the district with the state capital, Shillong.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting at Mawkyrwat on Saturday, NHDC Chairman Kynpham V. Kharlyngdoh said that the committee had twice sought an appointment with the Deputy Chief Minister, first on October 7 and on October 24, to discuss the needs of the district to get a National Highway connecting Shillong with Mawkyrwat up to Ranikor, but surprisingly, there was no response from the Deputy Chief Minister even after continuous follow-up, including a meeting with his personal assistant.
Kharlyngdoh also said that the committee did not oppose the proposal of the state government through PWD (Roads) to extend the construction of the intermediate lane from Weiloi to Mawkyrwat; however, the committee wanted a National Highway all the way from Lad Mawreng to Mawkyrwat and to Ranikor, which will serve the people of the district better.
He pointed out that the Lad Mawreng-Mawkyrwat-Ranikor road has been in the status of the National Highway since 2017; however, construction of other roads that got the status in the same year have been completed. But for South West Khasi Hills, the government has done nothing to date.
“To our surprise, the construction of the National Highway from 18 villages under Ranikor Civil Sub-Division to Nongjri-Maheshkola connecting South Garo Hills has been completed, but there is no National Highway connecting the state capital with our district,” Kharlyngdoh said.
Kharlyngdoh informed that during the meeting on Saturday, the National Highway Demand Committee of South West Khasi Hills has decided to again seek an appointment with the Dy. CM to raise the issue, and if he remains silent, the committee will be forced to take another step to convey the wish of the people of the district for more than a decade now.
