Indefinite strike begins against worn out National Highway 6

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 19, 2024

Vehicular movement along National Highway-6 in East Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya from Wednesday morning came to a total standstill due to the indefinite strike called by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Eleven Villages along NH-6 in East Jaintia Hills District.

The JAC of the Eleven Villages resorted to the drastic measures of sponsoring the indefinite strike following failure of the Meghalaya Govt and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to repair and renovate the highly dilapidated roads of the NH-6 from Tongseng to Malidor.

Large numbers of residents came out of their homes amidst the heavy downpour to implement the indefinite strike as they deemed it the only way to pierce the deaf ears of the authority concerned.

In Umkiang and Sonapyrdi, residents came out and erected a makeshift where they cooked foods for the residents who volunteered to implement the strike.

The National Highway 6 could be regarded as one of the busiest highways in the North Eastern region as the highway connects Tripura, Mizoram and a portion of Assam and Manipur. There is heavy movement of loaded trucks transporting construction materials, essential commodities amongst others besides passenger buses and light motor vehicles etc.

Coupled with the incessant heavy rainfall resulting in landslides and erosion of earth due to heavy seepage of waters during the past few weeks and high vehicular movement, the already damaged NH-6 continued to bear the brunt till date. A portion of the NH-6 along Lumshnong village in East Jaintia Hills District could be considered cut off as the road is almost totally washed out.

Formed on February 2024, the Joint Action Committee comprised the following eleven villages namely Ratacherra, Dona Umbluh, Dona Skul, Umkiang, Lumphyllut, Lumsoski, Pyrtakuna, Borsara, Kuliang, Shymplong and Tongseng all under 6-Sutnga Saipung Assembly Constituency and 1-Shillong Parliamentary Constituency.

Venting out their frustration, JAC Chairman Lasting Pala said they will not surrender until and unless the government and NHAI fulfil their demands and start repairing and renovating the NH-6 highway in actuality not just in papers.

Pala asserted that there will not be any kind of meeting with any kind of parties until and unless the government and NHAI decides to repair and construct the road from Tongseng till Malidor.

“We are determined to remain firm even if it takes us months because the conditions of the road are too severe to settle for anything lesser than complete construction of the NH-6 highway,” the JAC chairman said.

The drastic decision of the JAC to close down NH-6 received massive support not only from the residents, but also from people working for different organizations, the village elders, and the drivers.

Almost everyone extended their full cooperation to the protest for a better NH-6 highway for everyone.

It may be mentioned that the situation reached this level because the NHAI and the government failed to meet the needs of the people despite countless pleas and warnings given by the JAC. Recently, on Feb 16, a memorandum has been submitted to the Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya on account of the deplorable condition of the road. However, no positive response was yielded.