Shillong, Sep 5 (PTI) A 30.5 km-long road which was never
completed even after 36 years in remote West Garo Hills
district of Meghalaya today caused an uproar in the House even
as the government said it examining and taking up the matter
on a priority basis.
Sanctioned way back in 1976 at an initial cost of Rs
388.73 lakh, four years after Meghalaya got its statehood, the
Dimapara – Deku bazar road has never been used, Chief Minister
Mukul Sangma told the House during the question hour of the
first day of the three-day long autumn session of the
Assembly.
"There were missing gaps between 11–15 km along the road
and the road has never been used," Sangma said while replying
to a question by Leader of Opposition Conrad K Sangma on the
latest status of the road.
The CM assured the government will examine and take the
matter on a priority basis for the development of the area
even as he blamed the NCP-led government for causing further
delay in construction of the road.
He said, the previous government, in which the Opposition
NCP was in power, in 2009 had de-sanctioned six bridges along
the road and caused further delay in the completion of the
road project.
Unhappy at the accusation that the NCP-led government had
affected the delay, Conrad said the de-sanctioning was made
due to fund constraints in the department.
"In 2003-05, the government had sanctioned Rs 800 crore
schemes under the PWD against an actual budget of only Rs 100
crore," Conrad said.
Speaker Charles Pyngrope had to intervene and stop the
heated argument between the NCP leader and the chief minister.