Shillong, Oct 19: The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to address the problem of lack of roads.
In its order, the Division Bench said the absence of motorable roads impedes healthcare facilities being availed of and emergency services being reached to the far-flung areas. “To repeat, the right of access by way of roads in a hilly terrain must be regarded as an adjunct to the right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution and the State must address the problem of lack of roads in such light,” it said.
The bench said there are several other stretches of road particularly in the Garo Hills districts, whether in West Garo Hills or South Garo Hills that require immediate attention. In several parts, as regularly reported in the local press, there is neither any black-topping nor any trace of a metalled road, it said.
The bench was hearing a PIL filed by AH Hazarika and six others.
Meanwhile, the bench asked the state to file a report on the AMPT road.
The petitioner submitted that there has been substantial progress on the 0 to 32 km stretch of the AMPT Road and the petitioner also confirmed that the work on the other stretches have not yet been taken up, the respondents, particularly the State should ensure that the entirety of the road is constructed and completed as quickly as possible, it said.
