Shillong: Voice of the People Party leader Batskhem Myrboh hit the MDA government hard on September 13. He accused officials of wasting public cash on high-profile urban projects. These include five-star hotels, massive stadiums, empty malls, and unnecessary four-lane roads. Meanwhile, rural communities struggle without basic infrastructure.
Myrboh pointed to Nongtraw-Mawtnen village in the Ri-Bhoi district as a prime example of government neglect. Residents there still face the daily danger of crossing a river without a bridge. The road to their village remains so wrecked that travel is slower than walking. Only specialized trucks can make the trip. Locals now repair the kutcha road themselves just to keep basic access open, even though they sit only 16 kilometres from Mawlyndep.
The poor route hinders trade. Villagers transport sand from the Khri River, but the crumbling path chokes their economy. This neglect mocks the Chief Minister’s goal of a 10 billion dollar economy. Myrboh questioned how growth could matter when people cannot reach their own homes. He stated, "The government could not claim meaningful development while communities were left to repair their own roads and find ways to cross rivers without bridges."
Umsning constituency has had MDA representatives since 2018. Myrboh argued that this status shows the NPP ignores its own promises of development. He blasted the focus on building castles for the city elite. For him, real progress starts with bridges and reliable roads, not grand rhetoric. He warned that the failure to act raises questions about the constitutional obligations of the ruling administration.
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