Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court has cracked down on road construction practices in the state. A Division Bench led by Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh ordered the NHIDCL and NHAI to secure reports from hill experts or IIT Guwahati before breaking ground on any hilly terrain. Construction must be scientific.
IIT Guwahati is currently conducting a joint site inspection from September 28 to 30 to finalize a vulnerability assessment. NHIDCL officials will use this data to set timelines for remedial measures and detailed investigations. This follows a stark warning from expert D Gharpure, who noted that current practices ignore slope stability and basic drainage requirements. The expert report explicitly cautioned, "continuing with un-engineered cuts could lead to catastrophic damage, loss of human life and increased construction costs."
The court also addressed the Shillong-Dawki Road project. A fresh assessment pegged repair costs for damaged structures at Rs 90.84 lakh, significantly lower than the previous Rs 1.70 crore estimate. DSGI N Mozika confirmed the funds will be deposited immediately to allow for urgent repairs. Mozika also reported that the Shillong-Dawki road is now fully operational after landslide repairs.
Going forward, the court mandates that authorities prioritize minimizing tree cutting and adhere to rigorous site studies. Copies of the order go to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Meghalaya Chief Secretary, and the PWD. The court will revisit the case on October 13.
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