SHILLONG, MAY 14: Residents of the five villages along the Indo-Bangla border in East Jaintia Hills District have threatened to knock on Court’s door against the alleged failure of the state government to repair a road for the past many years.
“Enough is enough, we will soon go for an agitation against the government’s failure to repair this road inspite of many requests and reminders and will hit the street of Shillong if required,” Kynjaimon Amse, a resident of Huroi said in a statement issued here.
The 30 kilometers Borkhat-Sonpaur road (kutcha) connecting five villages – Huroi, Hingari, Lailong (Hingaria), Lejri and Baskuna from the National Highway-44 at Sonapur, was left unattended for decades causing immense hardships to the people of the area in all fronts.
Amse, who also a law student, said, “We will also take legal recourse on the matter before the High Court of Meghalaya.”
Earlier on February this year, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had directed the State government to take appropriation action on the alleged violation of human rights of the people residing along the Indo-Bangla border following a petition filed by Amse.
He said that the road is one of the two main demands which remain unresolved by the state government despite the direction of the NHRC.
The other demand was setting up of a PHC which according to Amse the government seems not to be committed to ensure the health welfare of the people in these areas are taken care of.
Also lambasting at the PWD (roads) for its failure to take any action despite of many letters being sent and assurances made, he said, “This only reflects the attitude of this department towards to the border villages of the state.”
He said that there are two proposals worth Rs 64 crores approximately lying in the Chief Engineer PWD(R) NH office for approval since 2016 and Rs 97 crore lying in the North Eastern Council office for approval since 2012.
“However the government has failed to make any effort to release the money for construction and improvement of the road. The files just became dust without anyone to follow it up,” he said.
The student further informed that the Minister in-charge of PWD MM Danggo has also alleged failed to give appointment for discussing on the demands of the people of the area.
He also further lambasted the public representatives from the district including the MP and the MLA, who had visited these villages but failed to help the people with regard to the road problem.
On the other hand, Amse informed that following the NHRC’s intervention, the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills District had recently submitted a comprehensive report to the Commission and also the state political department.
The report of the DC, which was also sent to Amse, informed that the government after holding various meetings has finally electrified two villages – Huroi and Hingaria under the DDJ Scheme by Off Grid (Solar energy) although not fully completed.
He said that under the scheme, every household in the villages will get solar panel adding that Lejri and Lailong will also be electrified under the off-grid system and the process is underway.
Meanwhile, the government has also decided to set up anganwadi centres in all the villages besides proposing many other schemes for the development of these border villages, he added.
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