Cutting across party lines, legislators in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly today raised serious concern over unplanned and rampant cutting of earth in the state capital, which had damaged roads in recent times.
Terming it as a "serious issue", Speaker Nabam Rebia did not rule out possibility of a political nexus for which rampant earth cutting was going unabated in the state capital.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, Congress member Lombo Tayeng sought to know the preventive steps taken by the government to stop the menace.
Responding to this Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said several decisions were taken by the state cabinet to ban encroachment and earth cutting.
Attributing sandy and loose soil to the problem, Tuki said "We are the first persons to show the way."
When Tayeng wanted to know the provisions for taking action against such menace, Tuki said there was a provision in the state's Land Act where land owners have to pay security deposit before earth cutting.
"The four-lane highway from Hollongi to Banderdewa and the proposed Capital Infrastructure Development Project will end most of the problems. The Municipal Act will be strengthened further to protect the future generation," he said.
"We have to raise a collective voice to bring mass awareness on the ill effect of earth cutting," the Chief Minister said.
Responding to the issue, state PWD minister Gojen Gadi said the state government was enforcing strict rules to check the menace.
Earlier, Tayeng had pointed out that the road damage at Pappu Nallah and near Niti Vihar was due to earth cutting by chief engineers of government departments and wanted to know if responsibility would be fixed.
Independent MLA Paknga Bage termed the menace as serious and called for legal action against such persons, while BJP member Tage Taki pointed out the man made disaster in the state capital. Congress MLA Gabriel D Wangsu termed it as an old problem and suggested for special efforts from the government to end it.
