Shillong, April 27: Meghalaya’s Minister in charge of Revenue and Disaster Management, Lahkmen Rymbui, on Monday expressed dissatisfaction over the pace and safety aspects of the Shillong–Dawki road project, even as he acknowledged steps taken by the State Government to prevent further mishaps, following a series of fatal incidents along the stretch.
“I am not satisfied (with the work progress of Shillong Dawki Road) because the Human lives are lost but I am satisfied with the steps taken by the state Government to see that the road is completed and more importantly to see that no disaster happens,” Rymbui said, underlining the gravity of concerns surrounding the project that has witnessed multiple casualties since its inception.
Describing the incidents as deeply distressing, he said, “I am very sad to see that those types of incidents happens and let’s hope all the implenting agencies and the government should take note that these types of things should not happen while implementing any other projects in the state of Meghalaya.” He also pointed to the Shillong–Dawki road where “lot of lives were lost since the starting of the road project,” stressing the need for heightened vigilance.
The Minister noted that advisories and restrictions had been issued repeatedly by the sub-divisional authorities but termed the incidents “unfortunate,” adding that the government has directed a formal inquiry. “The SDO civil have already issued time and again the advisories, prohibition, restrictions and whatever happened in unfortunate and I am very happy that government has asked the SDO civil to enquire into those incidents,” he said.
Referring to recent mitigation efforts, Rymbui observed that the implementing agency had initiated corrective measures to minimise risks. “Recently I have seen also the agency (NHIDCL) which implement the Shillong Dawki road have taken steps to see that whatever foreseeable things which may happen to see, that’s why they have dismantled those hillock at Mawlei and all so hope with better coordination between the district administration of East Khasi Hills, sub divisional administration, and the implenting agency should be there to manage this crisis,” he said, emphasising the importance of inter-agency coordination.
Highlighting the broader dimensions of disaster management, Rymbui cautioned against attributing such incidents to a single factor. “When we talk about disaster it is not due to one reason, it is not only because of rain, we have to see how to manage disaster. We have to see wheather this wall or this Hills may cause disaster. Wheather deforestation affects the management of disaster is combination of everything. When we talk about disaster, it’s not only about rain, it’s not about Earth quake, it may be any thing, there are also man-made, there are also accident happened,” he said, calling for a comprehensive and preventive approach to infrastructure development across the State.
Rymbui flags safety concerns on Shillong–Dawki road, calls for coordinated disaster management
