SHILLONG:
Amidst concerns over the dwindling lifespan of the Umiam Bridge, the government has decided to construct a new bridge over the reservoir.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, on May 6, said that left with no alternative, the government arrived at the decision as the current bridge is 57 years old and its situation needs a “timely stitch”.
“We have already engaged a consultant and two weeks back, they did an inspection of an alternative location near the Army’s boating centre,” he said.
Tynsong further informed that the consultant has submitted a positive report indicating that it is feasible to construct a new bridge at the inspected site.
“A full team of the consultant will conduct soil testing next week. Once the detailed feasibility report is received from the consultant, we will go ahead with the construction of a new bridge, in fact, will be shorter than the existing bridge,” said Tynsong.
The decision came after the Meghalaya High Court cautioned the government that the situation crying for help and if not addressed Shillong, the state capital, is going to be cut off for the want of a bridge over a reservoir.
The Court had also directed the state to ban vehicles carrying loads of more than 10 metric tons from plying over the bridge following suggestion that the existing bridge may not be able to bear the present traffic load.
Speaking on the directive of the Court to ban plying of heavy vehicles on the bridge, Tynsong informed that the chief secretary RV Suchiang has been asked to comply with the order of the court.
“By next week, we will sit together in a chief secretarial level meeting with the district administration and discuss how to impose restrictions on heavy vehicles plying on the bridge,” he said.
The deputy Chief minister also informed that the government is also coming up with long-term measures to ensure safety of the Umiam dam.
In July 2019, the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) officials had informed the Assembly Committee on Environment headed by its then chairman (L) SK Sunn during an inspection, that the lifespan of the Umiam dam has been reduced by 41 years due to heavy siltation and pollution.
According to the MeECL officials, the life of the Umiam dam, which was estimated to be 100 years, will end early by 2024 instead of 2065. Built in the early 1960s, the Umïam dam stores water for hydroelectric power generation and is also one of the tourist attractions en route to Shillong.
Tynsong further informed that the Public Work Department (PWD) is proposing to construct one more bypass from Mawlai, which will go directly to Umrynjah in order to connect the Shillong bypass at Umroi.
“This will serve two purposes – one, people will able to go directly to Umroi Airport and the other, it will also be a bypass from Umiam Lake for commuters to take U-turn and go to Guwahati via Umroi,” he said.
Stating that the government is also coming up with the Western Bypass, the deputy chief minister said, “We are in a final stage of preparing the detailed project report (DPR) by the consultant but this is being looked after by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).”
“With the completion of these projects, which may take a few years from now, problems will be tackled,” he said, reminding that the Umiam bridge is pivotal for all as it is the shortest route to Shillong city.
Umiam dam is one amongst the dams in the country which have been included for rehabilitation under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) by the Central government.
“The tendering process is still on. The project mainly focused on revamping the old Lake and has components for cleaning and desiltation of the lake. This will ensure that the Umiam Lake is still usable for power generation,” he added.