Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has assured strict action against substandard construction work if formal complaints are submitted. “If there is any concern and any complaints that are there, which are brought to our notice in writing, definitely will take action,” he stated while addressing the media.
His remarks came in response to a call by Shillong MP Ricky AJ Syngkon of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) for an independent quality audit of the repair work on National Highway 6 (NH-6). Syngkon, in a letter to Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday, highlighted serious lapses in road construction standards. He described NH-6 as a crucial corridor for trade, commerce, and tourism in the Northeast and raised concerns about its deteriorating condition. He further stated that an inspection at Kuliang village in East Jaintia Hills revealed alarming negligence, with the newly laid pavement so poorly executed that the tar could be removed by hand.
Reacting to the concerns, Sangma acknowledged the difficulty of monitoring the numerous projects underway across the state but emphasized the importance of public vigilance. “There are thousands of projects going on, implementation going on throughout the state, whether it’s Central government or whether it’s a state government. And yes, sometimes we cannot always keep a watch on every single construction work going on, and therefore, public support is required. What is important from our side is that as a government, we should act whenever we find such complaints. And that assurance, I can give you that wherever we find, no matter who the person is, wherever there’s a complaint, wherever a quality is not met. And when we get a complaint in writing, I assure the people of the state that I will take personal action from the department and the government side,” the Chief Minister said.