Correspondent
RUKSIN, 9 May: The local people here in East Siang district have expressed strong resentment over the pathetic condition of the Mirem-Mikong-Jonai (MMJ) diversion roads, especially the diversion road at Ruksin village.
They have demanded immediate repair and maintenance of the road for the safety of the commuters.
The MMJ road has been diverted at three different points, at Ruksin, Ngorlung and Peneng villages, in between Mikong and Mirem villages, due to the ongoing RCC bridge construction work.
The diversion roads have been left unrepaired for the last two years by the contractors concerned. The pothole-ridden roads along with falling boulders are posing a serious threat to vehicles.
At least 20 accidents have occurred on the diversion road at Ruksin village alone in the last few weeks. A 55-year-old woman of Ruksin village died in an accident on the road on 1 May.
The villagers are demanding that the authority take necessary action against the contractor concerned for the deplorable condition of the ‘subways’.
The construction of the RCC bridge over the Ruksin river has been awarded to Pinung Agencies, owned by Mongol Taga.
When contacted, officials of the Pasighat PWD division said that the contractors are solely responsible for repair and maintenance of any such ‘subways’ till the main projects are completed.
“The government has sanctioned sufficient funds to the state PWD for implementation of various road and bridge projects, but the contractors concerned are not keen to execute the construction activities on time,” the engineers said.
Sources in the PWD division further informed that Rs 12 crores under the SIDF has been sanctioned for the construction of three RCC bridges at Ruksin, Ngorlung and Peneng river portions on the MMJ road but the works on these bridges are going on at a snail’s pace, which has angered and disappointed the villagers.
