Northeast Desk, 5th July: National People’s Party (NPP) legislator Santa Mary Shylla from Sutnga-Saipung on July 4 criticized Voice of the People Party (VPP) MP Ricky AJ Syngkon for taking credit for securing central funds for the repair of the heavily damaged National Highway-6 (NH-6), which has suffered due to incessant rainfall.
Shylla expressed skepticism about Syngkon’s claims of an additional Rs 290 crore sanction from the central government. She stated that she would personally congratulate Syngkon if the state indeed received this additional funding, on top of the already sanctioned Rs 200.81 crore.
“We are pleased that the Shillong MP has taken the initiative, claiming he has secured Rs 290 crore. Given that the state government has already received Rs 200.81 crore, an additional Rs 290 crore would indeed be beneficial, totaling Rs 490 crore for our state,” Shylla remarked.
Shylla’s comments were in response to media reports suggesting that the Centre had announced an additional Rs 290 crore for NH-6 repairs following Syngkon’s meeting with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on July 3.
Shylla clarified that the Centre had sanctioned Rs 200.81 crore in October 2023 for NH-6 repairs, with work commencing in March and expected to be completed within a year. She thanked the state government for securing this initial fund and acknowledged the ongoing work by two contractors.
She further explained, “The Union Minister mentioned the previously sanctioned Rs 200.81 crore. I am unsure about the additional Rs 290 crore the MP is referring to, but the fact remains that Rs 200.81 crore was sanctioned in October 2023, and the remaining Rs 89.90 crore is still in process, with the DPR prepared and awaiting sanction.”
The government clarified that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) approved the Rs 200.81 crore proposal on October 17, 2023, with work divided into two packages. The first package, covering Km 69.200 to Km 120.200, was contracted for Rs 77.81 crore, with work commencing on March 23, 2024. The second package, covering Km 120.200 to Km 171.455, was contracted for Rs 122.99 crore.
Regarding the critical sections of NH-6, NHAI selected THDCIL to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for landslide mitigation and slope stabilization at seven vulnerable locations, including the Sonapur Tunnel area. An MoU was signed between NHAI and THDCIL on February 15, 2024, with the DPR, amounting to Rs 89.90 crore, submitted on June 18, 2024. The final sanction is still awaited.
The government also noted that Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma discussed the early finalization of these projects with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on June 24, 2024.
Read More: Arunachal: Landslides Prompt Closure of Key Road in Upper Siang