Meghalaya: Villagers stage protest against PWD’s decision to stop construction of footpath

By Our Reporter, TNT News | Shillong, June 14, 2018:

As a mark of protest against the decision of the Public Works Department to stop the ongoing work for construction of the footpath under the MGNREGS scheme, the people of Mawtap Pyllun village near Sohiong in East Khasi Hills  blocked the main road for the past three days.

The villagers including men and women have put huge boulders in the middle of the road to prevent vehicles from plying.  During the protest, the villagers also carried placard demanding clarification from the Executive Engineer of PWD (Roads), National Highway Division, Shillong over the sudden decision to stop the construction of the footpath along this road.

While speaking to media persons, Sordar of the village, A War who is the chairman of the Village Employment Council (VEC), said that the PWD took this decision while the villagers are busy constructing the footpath under the MGNREGS.

"As per letter, the department decided to scrap the permission which it had given earlier to construct the footpath without citing any reasons," War said.

He also said that the Executive Engineer, W.R. Lyngdoh has not been able to explain when the members of the village dorbar had gone to meet him in his office.

"The main purpose of constructing this footpath was for the safety of the pedestrian especially for the school children who passes through this road on a daily basis," the village sordar said.

He also informed that the VEC is facing a problem since the proposal for construction of the footpath was already approved.

"We are not able to pay the wages to the job card holders under MGNREGS scheme since the work has been stopped," War added.

The village sordar said that they would continue to protest until the PWD review its decision to stall the construction of the footpath.

It may be mentioned that the people from adjoining villages have been suffering after the villagers had blocked this road for the past three days.

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