Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, 4 Aug: Appalled by the deplorable condition of the Akajan-Likabali-Bame (ALB) road, a joint action committee (JAC), comprising the Jigo Yego Students’ Union and the Basar Area Students’ Union, on Tuesday demanded that the state government immediately commence work on the ALB road.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, JAC chairman Nyakar Taipodia claimed that confusion among higher authorities over which agency should be entrusted with the execution of the ALB road has been causing immense hardship to the common people.
“For several years, the people of these districts have endured hardship caused by the deplorable and deteriorating condition of this road – a hardship that becomes acute during every monsoon season,” stated the JAC chairman.
Taipodia informed that, despite the longstanding and widespread public demand that the ALB road be properly maintained and accorded all-season/all-weather road status, no meaningful action has been visible on the ground.
“Rather than improving, the condition of the road continues to worsen with each passing day, notwithstanding repeated representations submitted to our elected representatives at both the state and central levels,” he added.
The JAC chairman called upon all public representatives of the four districts – Lower Siang, Leparada, West Siang, and Shi-Yomi – including Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, to provide a concrete resolution on the status of the ALB road before 20 August.
“Why is the government paying attention only to the compensation issue? We need the road. We cannot wait for eternity,” said Taipodia.
He further stated that the ALB road might be the only national highway in the country where people collect donations to carry out social service.
“Have you ever heard of social service being carried out along a national highway? People of Likabali often donate funds to carry out social service along the ALB,” he added.
The JAC further stated that it is a matter of serious concern that there is continuous confusion among the public regarding the agency responsible for the construction and maintenance of this road, as responsibility has been divided between the GREF (BRTF) and the NHIDCL.
“This division has considerably weakened public accountability, as neither agency can be held squarely responsible for the delay,” the JAC said, reiterating that work on the ALB road must commence before 20 August, “or the people of the affected districts will launch a fierce agitation.”
