Shillong, Mar 22: Congress MLA from Umsning Celestine Lyngdoh on Wednesday cornered the PWD (Roads) Minister Prestone Tynsong as he pressed for the information on the existing roads’ load-bearing capacity.
On the third day of the budget session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Lyngdoh insisted that the minister provided the specific information on the liad-bearing capacities of rural, intermediate and highways.
Lyngdoh asserted that the question was important as in some cases, “we see that to build 2km of road, the existing 7 km of road is damaged as the trucks carrying the construction materials would ply on these roads”.
However, Tynsong continued to beat about the bush without providing the information sought. Later, he sought time to table the information.
Tynsong also mentioned, while replying to a question, that in some cases roads do get damaged within months of construction owing to inclement weather. Plying of heavy vehicles found no mention. “We have seen some PMGSY roads being damaged because of heavy rainfall,” he added.
Later, the minister said even PWD roads meet such fate and the state government will ensure these roads are maintained free of cost.
Photo by MM
