[ Bengia Ajum ]

HOLLONGI, 6 Aug: After major damage was caused to NH 415 a few kilometres before the Donyi Polo International Airport due to earth-cutting by private individuals near the highway, the Papum Pare district administration has directed the landowners to clear the debris.

On Sunday night, a mudslide blocked the highway a few kilometres before the airport.

Due to extensive earth-cutting along NH 415, a huge volume of debris from a site adjacent to the highway slid onto the road. The highway remained blocked for several hours, leaving many vehicles stranded.

The Papum Pare administration has identified three major locations where the road was damaged due to earth-cutting. “All three parties, including two private individuals and an agency laying a gas pipeline, have been directed to remove the debris from the highway. We have warned them of legal consequences if they fail to do so,” an official of the district administration said.

The land owners have engaged men and machinery to clean the debris. “For the last four days, we are continuously working to clear debris. But when it rains, the debris keeps coming from the hill. However, we are trying to clear as soon as possible,” said a worker of the landowner working at the site to clear debris.

 The Papum Pare and the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) administrations have come under strong public criticism for failing to control illegal earth-cutting along the highway. Between Hollongi and Itanagar, the road has been damaged at several locations due to earth-cutting carried out by private individuals near the highway.

“There is a blanket ban on earth-cutting. We request people who purchase land in our area not to carry out earth-cutting. They should inform the local panchayat leaders and the local administration if there is an urgent necessity to undertake earth-cutting. Otherwise, no one should carry out earth-cutting,” said Techi Taka, GPC, Hollongi.

Besides clearing the debris from the highway, the authorities have also taken steps to protect the road near the Donyi Polo International Airport entry point, which is on the verge of being washed away.

Officials of the district administration, along with PWD Highway engineers and local panchayat leaders, are on the ground, monitoring the progress of the work.