SHILLONG, JAN 11: The Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday inspected the ongoing construction of the double lane bridge at Umpling and the internal roads connecting Shillong city with the New Shillong Township.
The panel also inspected and reviewed the progress with regards to the implementation of the Nongrah Water Supply Scheme.
A meeting was also held with the officials of the Public Works Department and the Public Health Engineering department.
Addressing media persons, Chairman of PAC Charles Pyngrope said, “In the course of our discussions with the officers we are being made to understand that there has been progress albeit a little slow that can be compounded because of the pandemic that brought the works to a standstill in the year 2020 and the subsequent fallout because of the various restrictions imposed by the district administration which had to be done so to avoid the spread of the pandemic.”
He however informed the committee was please to know that the construction of the Umpling Bridge, which is an important connector between the two parts of Shillong is nearing completion.
“We have been informed by the end of March, we will be able to use it which means the connector will be opened,” he said.
According to him, a little time was loss due to delay to bring the bearings where the bridge sits on. The capacity of the bridge is 70 metric tons.
When asked, Pyngrope, also AITC chief and Nongthymmai legislor said, “We have been informed there has not been any escalation due to the delay. The project cost remains at Rs 4.35 crore.”
He also said they were also getting a lot of insinuations that the legislators were not taking interest to push for the early completion of the project but “you can’t ask a fellow to swim in the river and construct the bridge that is impossible.”
He pointed out the reason being the delay was due to COVID-19 pandemic followed by monsoon.
On the construction of the internal roads in the area, Pyngrope said that sanctions have been made and some works have been carried out but that was very slow.
“We have been informed today all the schemes that were proposed under the rehabilitation or reconstruction of roads have been allotted to the contractors – that is one good step in the right direction. Now it is upto the contractors to start and get the ball rolling,” he said.
Stating that these roads are feeding new Shillong, Pyngrope asserted, “We cannot take it lightly as it is not a question of Nongrah, Umpling or anybody. If you want decongestion of Shillong, you have to take special attentions of all these roads.”
He further informed that the deputy chief minister had indicated that there is also a proposal for construction of another bridge over the Umkaliar that is from MES to Umpling and again connecting Ishyrwat.
“That is large and the total cost of that approximately at today’s rate will be Rs 70 crore but that is also a very important feeder bridge to ease the congestion from Shillong to NEIGRIHMS. That proposal will be put up in the next budget session,” he said.
As far as the Nongrah Water Supply Scheme is concerned, the PAC chairman said the project is a major concern as it was sanctioned way back in 2017-18.
He said the progress of work has been slowed down due to the nature of the soil which is more of rock in the area where they have chosen to build the raw water sub, which is the main reservoir that takes all the water from different sources.
“However, we were informed that by this year, though not very immediate, we will be able to draw water…for the residents of Nongrah village itself,” Pyngrope said.
By Our Reporter
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