Shillong, March 19: High Court of Meghalaya is unhappy over the claim of the National Highways Authority of India that strengthening work on the Jowai‑Ratacherra stretch is complete.
However, the report of Amicus Curiae documented large potholes at Byndihati, Tonseng, Ratacherra and blocked drains causing water‑logging.
“It appears that the statement made by Mr Chauhan…is incorrect,” the division bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh said in its order passed on Thursday.
On the Amicus report on the inspection of entire stretch following a March 11 order, ithe court said, “The said report…is taken on record. To the report are annexed photographs of the potholes. It appears that in the portion of the road at Byndihati, Tonseng before the bridge, there are big potholes in the middle of the road, Ratacherra near the petrol pump. There are also big potholes in Tonseng warranting immediate attention. mentioned in the report that the guard walls, drain erected in most the stretches, slabs are either blocked or not in order leading to water logging in some of the stretches.”
The bench also observed that the PIL has been pending since 2022 and almost four years have lapsed and yet the road is not completely done.”
The bench asked the Project Director Anand Singh Chauhan to appear on March 20 and allowed time for the Amicus to place the incorrect statements on record. has ordered
