Shillong, August 31: The debatable two-lane road project Nongstoin-Wahkaji and the Wahkaji-Phlangdiloin-Ranikor road has sprung into the picture again as members of the pro and anti-road project groups held a meeting with Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma in the city on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sangma said, “The whole controversy of this two lane road issue is because the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) has indicated that the road project has been linked to the ultimate objective of proposed uranium mining activities.”
The Chief Minister informed that the state government is firm in its decision to take on board the views and opinion of people of the state before taking further decision on pre uranium mining activists.
“The stand of the government is to engage in dialogue to ensure that the two pressure groups those in favor and those against the road project take a collective decision which is acceptable mutually in the best interest of the people of the state,” he said,
He however said, any issue pertaining to development which is link to uranium mining activities must be looked at thorough the prospective of the people.
“The government will look to carry the views of the people of the state on board concerning any sensitive issue,” he said.
He added, “The stand that we have advocated from the side of the state government is that it is a fact that UCIL had been mandated for uranium mining for a very long time, there is nothing secret about this.”
Meanwhile, general secretary of the anti road project group Joint Action Committee of Social Organization (JACSO) Robertjune Khar Jahrin said, “Despite not reaching any resolution or conclusion on the matter during the meetingwe have however expressed our views that the central government through the UCIL is planning to mine uranium in the state and this road will facilitate that purpose and the road is not for development in the region.”
He said the anti road project groups have also suggested the CM that in the next meeting even officials of UCIL and MORTH should also be present to discuss on the sensitive issue.
“Until and unless representatives from these two parties are present in the meeting there is currently no meaning for us to have dialogue on the issue only with the state government,” he said.
Informing that the CM had told them that the road project is link with promoting tourism, he said, “There are many tourist destinations in the state in which the government can invest like Sohra or Nongkhnum which is the biggest river island however we are yet to invest properly in these places which has already attracted many tourists.”
Stating that if the KHADC is able to sanction, Rs. 20 crores for repairing of the existing roads in the region, he questioned, “Why can’t the state government construct or repair the existing roads in South West Khasi Hills.” .
