Shillong, Dec 7: The restrictions imposed on plying of heavy vehicles along Umiam dam, following months-long retrofitting works, is only to ensure public safety, said power minister Abu Taher Mondal on Friday.
“I am very sorry to say that many commuters have been facing inconvenience…but safety of the dam comes first,” he said while asserting that the retrofitting works have increased the dam’s lifespan to 15-20 years.
“However…it will all depend on natural condition, seismic conditions,” he said.
Safety of the dam is also connected to safety of the people living downstream and commuters on the dam as well. “That’s why we have imposed restrictions on vehicles on the dam,” he said.
Stating that the traffic restrictions were as per recommendations from IIT Guwahati, he said, “They have given us some recommendations and based on the recommendations whatever needed to be done we are doing that.”
Meanwhile, he also informed the government would come up with an alternative road to Shillong very soon.
On the power scenario in Meghalaya, the minister said, “So far so good, we are very much comfortable and we are working to see that this time also our esteemed consumers are getting uninterrupted power supply.”
