SHILLONG, JULY 27: The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday asked the state government to approach the Centre for a special grant for providing road access to citizens in the far-flung hilly regions of the state.
In its order, a two-member bench said access to roads is a basic right, particularly in the hilly terrain.
“The state government said that it does not have funds to take up the project. It is hoped that between the State and the Union adequate funds may be found to provide the most basic need of road access to citizens in the far-flung hilly regions,” it said.
“The State may use this order to approach the appropriate Union Ministry, including the Ministry of Surface Transport or the Border Roads Organisation or appropriate Central body for a special grant for providing access in all hilly regions, including for the construction of the relevant road which is the subject-matter of the present petition,” the court said while hearing a PIL.
It further hoped that this meets the approval of the Union at the earliest as the lack of road denies the affected citizens the most basic facilities of reaching out for healthcare or even to obtain necessary provisions.
The state had informed that a request was made to the North Eastern Council for release of additional funds for the construction of the road in question, but the NEC has declined on the ground that it is beyond the scope of the NEC programme.
The petitioner Arnold G Momin expressed helplessness on the part of the citizens in the area by bringing it to the notice of the Court that the recent rains have destroyed a substantial part of the road that had been partially constructed.
By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours