SHILLONG, MAR 30: Four ngos and traditional heads have served a fifteen-day deadline to the state government to resume construction of the Kurelia bridge that awaits construction for the last eleven years.
The delegation of four ngos and headmen of four villages under the banner of the Pangam Raliang Border Development Committee (PRBDC) met state PWD minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Monday to place their demand before him.
“We demand that the construction of the bridge should resume within fifteen days and that the construction should be completed within six months,” Rikut N Parein, president of Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) told newsmen after the meeting.
The demand also came after the construction of the bridge was stopped for almost two years.
The construction of the Kurelia Bridge over Myntang River was sanctioned on August 16, 2004 at an estimated cost of Rs 428.65 lakhs and was supposed to be completed within years as it was sanctioned. The work was allocated to RV Associates, Assam.
“However, the construction of the bridge is yet to be completed and the rate of construction of the same is running at a snail’s pace and as of now the work has stopped and it has been so for almost two years,” Parein said.
According to Parein, the bridge is only route to connect to almost 32 villages in Block I area along the inter-state border with Assam.
These villages includes Psiar, Moolber, Khatkasla, Moojem, and others falls under the West Jaintia hills district of the state.
Parein informed that due to incompletion of the bridge, the people have been affected because they are unable to transport their produce from their fields to the nearest market at Sahsniang and even if they are able to do so, the cost of transport is higher as porters would have to be engaged to carry their products over this river which could have been avoided had this bridge been completed.
“This delay has also put the people of these villages in great hardships especially in the time of medical emergency because the nearest PHC is located at Sahsniang village which almost 20-30 km away,” Parein said.
Parein, however, said although a sub centre is also there in Psiar village but it is not capable of catering to the medical needs of the people.
Parein informed that the PWD minister said that the contract work allotted to RV Associates, Assam has been cancelled by the state government as the contractor had failed to complete the project within the stipulated time despite several extension.
The minister further assured the delegation that the government would soon float a fresh tender for construction of the bridge within the second week of April, Parien informed.
Meanwhile, the committee also threatened to resort to other means if the government failed to ensure that the construction of the bridge is completed within 6 months.- By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours