Shillong, Mar 10: Independent legislator from Mawphlang, S K Sunn on Tuesday asked the state government to grant him the No-objection certificate (NOC) for urgent restoration and rehabilitation of damaged internal roads in different villages under Marbisu Sirdarship.

Sunn made the request after inspecting the Pdengshnong Marbisu-Mawpyllun-Tyngkhit road, approach road to Kreit Marbisu and internal roads in Marbisu which include Traw, Saitkhlieh, Lwai and Sohram.

He was accompanied by executive engineer of PWD Shillong South Division, WR Lyngdoh and headmen of various villages.

These roads have been damaged beyond repair after they were used for transportation of over-loaded construction materials and heavy machineries during the construction of the standard two-laning Shillong-Nongstoiñ-Tura road.

The two-lane road project was sanctioned by the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways and implemented by the BSC & CC (JV) construction company.

The dilapidated condition of these roads post construction of the Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura road has affected over 24 villages under the Marbisu Sirdarship.

The delay in re-construction of dismantled footpaths and bus sheds from Lad Mawreng village upto Pomlum has also frustrated the local villagers and the respective headman keeping in mind the safety of pedestrians especially students from the area.

The executive engineer during the inspection informed that the department has already submitted an estimate for restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged internal roads which amounting to over Rs 3 crore in 2018 and is still awaiting sanction from the state government.

However, the inordinate delay of the state government to release the sanction has compelled the Mawphlang MLA to suggest that NOC be granted to him for taking up the repairing of the damaged road from his own resources.

“If the government further delays to release the sanction, it would be in the fitness of things that NOC be granted to the MLA to repair these damaged internal roads and re-construction of footpaths and bus sheds,” Sunn told reporters at the sidelines of the inspection.

The MLA said that the issue was also raised by him during the budget session of the Assembly in 2018 and 2019.

“In his reply, the Deputy Chief Minister in-charge PWD Prestone Tynsong had admitted that the transportation of over-loaded construction materials and heavy machineries had damaged the roads beyond repair but denied that the construction company is responsible for restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged road as it our own government’s responsibility to restore & rehabilitate the roads. Again when the issue was raised, the Dy.CM in his reply had informed that the proposal for restoration & rehabilitation of damaged internal roads, structures like footpaths, bus sheds dismantled by the construction company have been submitted to the government and awaiting sanction,” he said.

Sunn informed that considering the immense public sufferings and safety of school going children, he has been actively pursuing the matter regularly and at equal intervals.

He also submitted that a letter was also addressed to the chief secretary with a copy marked to the chief minister on January 30, this year stating that if he fails to get a positive response from the government, he would be left with no other option but to approach the court of law for necessary relief in the interest of the public of his constituency.

“However, the matter was kept in abeyance after the chief secretary has sought for time to sort out the problem,” the MLA said.

He said the PWD officials informed that till such time schemes are considered and sanctioned by the government, their hands are tied but, having seen the extent of damage of the internal roads and urgent necessity for re-construction of footpaths for safety of school going children, they informed that they will pursue the matter with their higher authority once again for an urgent positive response to the matter.

However, the MLA reiterated that considering the inordinate delay and continued public sufferings, the PWD may also consider giving an NOC to him as an MLA for urgent restoration & rehabilitation of the roads.