SHILLONG, AUG 20: A delegation led by the National People’s Party (NPP) MDC from Sohryngkham Pyniaid Sing Syiem today demanded the state government to consider construction of a bridge over the Umkhen river connecting Madanrting and Jyntah village.
Submitting a memorandum to the deputy chief minister in-charge PWD Prestone Tynsong here on Monday, Syiem said, “We request you to construct a bridge over Wah Umkhen to connect Jyntah village and Madanrting so as to ease the problems faced daily by commuters from the harassment by the authorities of the Assam Regiment.”
The delegation which also comprises of the Jyntah dorbar shnong and members of the Khasi Students Union (KSU), further sought the intervention of the deputy chief minister into the sudden closure of the old footbridge over the Umkhen River by the Assam Regiment.
On this, the MDC told reporters that the deputy chief minister has assured the delegation that he would give instruction to the deputy commissioner for conducting a spot inspection to the place.
“We have also apprised him (Tynsong) that the old footbridge is located outside the fencing of the Assam Regiment’s firing range,” he said while informing that the inspection which will be conducted within two days will also look into the alleged encroachment by the army.
Admitting that the existing footbridge is very old, Syiem however said, “We condemned the authorities concerned for closing down the bridge without giving prior information to the district administration and the dorbar village.”
Asked on the importance of public safety, the Sohryngkham MDC said that the delegation has also urged the deputy chief minister to also depute engineers to examine the condition of the footbridge.
Syiem further informed that recently an inspection was also conducted along with the district magistrate after receiving complaints from the people especially residents of Jyntah village.
“We have also met the authorities of the Assam Regiment who had maintained that the land where the footbridge is located belongs to them. However based on our demand, they agreed to allow public to use motorable RCC Bridge constructed by them,” he said.
He however said that the delegation during the upcoming inspection to be conducted to the site will also find out whether necessary permission was granted for the construction of the new RCC bridge by the Assam Regiment.
Syiem further alleged that the construction of the new RCC Bridge had also affected the Umkhen River due to the alleged haphazard land filling that was done in the area. “I will soon take up this matter with the authorities concerned for necessary action,” he added.
By Our Reporter
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