OUR CORRESPONDENT
HAFLONG: In protest against the apathy of the National Highway Authority of India, the people of Harangajao in Dima Hasao blocked the NH 27 (earlier known as NH-54 E) at Harangajao for hours on Saturday. The blockade was called in demand for early completion and maintenance of a 25 km stretch of road between Jatinga and Harangajao which is now in a very deplorable condition. Due to the blockade, vehicles running in between Haflong-Silchar was badly affected resulting in people's inconvenience.
The blockade was however lifted after the assurance from the district administration at 1:30 pm. They also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner which was received by Assistant Commissioner, Ibon Teron at Harangajao.
The memorandum maintained that the concerned citizens of Harangajao viz, Gaon Buras of Harangajao Constituency, Harangajao United FC and Local Citizens were to appraise and report the Deputy Commissioner on the incompetence of National Highway Authorities and their contractors working on NH 54E.
They have repeatedly enquired the contractors and officials of NHAI about their approach in building the road and requested them to take adequate measures to avoid any untoward incident in the future but their voices were unheard and their views and concerns were dumped by NHAI officials.
They stated that due to improper survey by NHAI officials, construction of the East West corridor has affected many persons who own lands. NHAI has not taken any steps to compensate or provide alternatives to respective land owners. Agricultural lands near the highways are experiencing mudslides and sinkage due to such faulty practices by NHAI.
Due to flash floods and continuous downpours, potholes have turned into huge craters making it difficult for the commuters as during rainfall it collects water.
It is a well-known fact that Dima Hasao is experiencing high and harsh downpour during all monsoon season even small streams convert into wide rivers due to rainfall and yet after knowing this fact NHAI authorities are still opting for hume pipes instead of a proper bridge or culvert to compensate the force of such streams. In the past they have witnessed many such hume pipes overflowed, washed away and collapsed due to high force of the river during monsoons.
Presently NHAI has engaged local contractors to complete the restoration works, but the instructions given to complete the restoration is questionable. Very poor engineering from NHAI authorities to restore is being practiced, earth-cutting works are not scientifically done which will result to more landslides during mid monsoons. Such practices from NHAI authorities are just waste of taxpayers' money and are not an all-round solution for an all-weather road.
The devastation has led to shortage of essential commodities and the business community have been hit badly due to no proper road connectivity. They hereby requested the DC to kindly direct NHAI authorities to complete the restoration works so that heavy vehicles carrying essential commodities could start plying and reach their respective markets at the earliest to restore the economy.
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