KHLIEHRIAT:
The National Highway NH – 06 in Meghalaya links East and West Jaintia Hills and other Eastern Indian states, including Barak Valley of Assam,
Mizoram, Tripura, and North Manipur.
It is one of the most important roads in the state. However, the deplorable conditions of the road have created inconvenience to commuters and vehicular movement along the stretch of the National Highway from Khliehriat area up to Malidor bordering Assam. The road is turning from bad to worse day by day, particularly during the monsoon season. During rainy periods, minor and major landslides frequently occur in the entire stretch of the road from Tongseng up to Ratacherra. These landslides not only block the road for days and weeks but also wash away vehicles, small and big alike. Traveling through this area during the monsoon is inadvisable as you may not know how many days it will take you to reach your destination.
Due to deplorable road conditions and frequent landslides, travelers are getting stuck for days without food and water.
The local people of the area have been demanding proper management and repairs of the pathetic road by organizing strikes, protests, and petitioning the state Government.
The road falls under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which handles maintenance and repairs through the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
The road was constructed way back in the early 70s by the Border Roads Organization (BRO), who later handed it over to the State Public Works Department (PWD) and then to the NHAI. The affected local people from various villages, through their village authorities (Dorbar Shnong), are leading the protests with the Joint Action Committee (JAC), an umbrella organization of villagers from all affected villages.
Umkiang Village Headman Lasting Pala said, ‘We have decided to call off our protest until the end of October as NHAI has assured us that the road will be repaired by that month.’ He added that if no signs of repair works are taking place in October as assured, the protest will resume.
