SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR: Good-laden, as well as empty trucks moving from Cachar district moving towards Meghalaya's border through Malidor along NH 44, has become a major cause of concern. It takes three to four days to get entry to Meghalaya. Malidor, the dividing line between Assam and Meghalaya, is basically a landslide prone area.
At this check point, the procedure framed by the State government of Meghalaya is behind the abnormal delay in allowing the vehicles to get in. This is being done to contain the spread of COVID-19. As a result of this procedure, a large number of trucks remain stranded for hours in queue in the landslip prone area. The halt of the trucks also damages the highway and there is possibility of formation of trench like ditches.
Being landslide prone area with its own history, besides heavy jam, there is also possibility of accidents. Such apprehension was expressed by the assistant executive engineer of PWD (NH) Hailakandi division in a letter issued on June 15. On the basis of such apprehension and the ground report from Malidor, Keerthi Jally, Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, addressed a letter to the Commissioner and Secretary, Government of Assam, on June 20 urging upon him to take up the matter with his counterpart of Meghalaya for easing and expediting checking procedure.
This will remove traffic jam, bottleneck in movement and also accidents. Keerthi Jally said a positive move by Meghalaya government on this interstate movement of vehicles, man and materials, will also prevent damage to the NH 44, the life line of supply of Barak Valley, Tripura and Mizoram.
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