SHILLONG:
Legislator Celestine Lyngdoh (Umsning-INC) told the House, on March 22, that there cannot be a standard specification for construction of roads all over the country, considering that the climatic conditions and topography differs from one place to the other.
Lyngdoh told the House during the Question Hour that the state of Meghalaya is different from Rajasthan.
“We (Meghalaya) are exposed to so much rain, so the stress and strain of the roads in Meghalaya is totally different from roads in Rajasthan,” Lyngdoh countered, while seeking to know if there can be an area-specific thickness.
“Is it not the duty of the government to demand special consideration for the thickness in the roads especially in Meghalaya?” he questioned the House.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Public Works Department (Roads) Prestone Tynsong reiterated that the government is bound by the specifications laid down by the Indian Road Congress (IRC).
“IRC is a body where they study each and every state not necessarily only Rajasthan or plain belt but even in the hilly areas. So, according to their studies, ultimately, they came out with the manual for the specification on construction of roads,” Tynsong said.
Tynsong further stated that, as far as Meghalaya is concerned, the design is always taken into consideration according to the intensity of the traffic, the climatic condition and the subgrade condition of each road throughout the state.
Even though there are notifications that carrying capacity should be 12 tons or 18 tons, he noted the problem of errant trucks carrying 30–40 tons plying on the roads.
Meanwhile, Lyngdoh further explained that roads are damaged within two or three months of construction, and what, if any, measures are in place to hold contractors accountable for such rapid degradation of roads in Meghalaya.
“After one week, the contractor receives the final bill, and the same individual will repair that work, he will get extra for repairing,” he said.
In his reply, Tynsong simply blamed the climatic conditions, especially during monsoon season, for such damage.
He also informed that the government is taking initiative to ensure that state-funded road projects incorporate a warranty period, as in Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and other central projects.
“Maintenance upto five years should be free (by contractor),” Tynsong said.