ITANAGAR, Sep 30: The All Khakam Students’ Union (AKSU) under Pongchau circle organised a protest rally at Kamhua Noknu village on Saturday for early completion of the Mintong-Khasa Road, the lifeline to Khakam Block. Hundreds of students marched in protest against the delay of road connectivity in the area. 
The All Khakam Students’ Union President Pauwang Wangsa stated that the controversial road known as MK Road (Mintong Khasa Road) of 25 KMs length has been delayed for the last three decades. The road was constructed for the first time in the year 1979, since then the road has not been connected to the villages. He said that due to lack of road connectivity, students are the worst sufferers as many teachers do not turn up in the schools.  Other educational logistics are not able to be brought to the schools because of high transportation charges.
 There are many schools in Khasa and Kamhua which are non-functional due to lack of manpower. The procurement of mid-day meal (MDM) materials for the schools are also suffering due to high transportation charges that the school managing committees and teachers in charge are unable to afford charges. As such, many sacks of rice have to be sold at Longding town to meet the transportation charges.
The Union also informed that transportation charges are very high even for the general public of Khakam area. The route from Longding to Khakam block is only about 40 kms but due to non-maintenance of the road the passenger vehicles charge about Rs.8000 and above and mini trucks or carriage vehicles about Rs. 9000 and above and to travel to Kamhua Noknu village it is about 5000. 
This hike in the transportation is causing more hardship for the downtrodden people of the Block. The Union also alleged that the State government and Public Works Department are not serious in connecting the Block. 
The Khakam Block is about 40 Kms from the District headquarters of Longding. The Block comprises of five villages namely Kamhua Noknu, Kamhua Noksa, Jagan, Votnu and Khasa. In the past decade the government of Arunachal Pradesh has made many unsuccessful attempts to connect the villages of the Block via routes from Pongchau to Khakam, Mintong to Khakam, Khanu to Khakam, Tissa to Khakam and Konsa to Khakam. The routes are seasonal and till now the villagers are facing a lot of hardships to travel and carry food grains to the villages. The Union demanded immediate maintenance of the road and proper execution of the current project from Mintong to Khasa.

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List