Frustrated over the prolonged neglect of severely damaged roads, residents of Ward No. 8 under the Kwakta Municipal Council have threatened to launch an indefinite road blockade if repair works are not initiated by the concerned authorities by Tuesday.
The warning was issued during a public meeting convened by local residents to discuss the worsening condition of roads in the ward, which they said has made daily commuting increasingly difficult and hazardous.
Addressing media persons after the meeting, Meraimayum Md. Riyas Khan, General Secretary of the Kwakta Islamabad Youth Development Organisation (KIYDO), said the roads in Ward No. 8 have deteriorated to an alarming extent, with large potholes and damaged stretches posing a serious risk to commuters.
He said the poor condition of the roads has severely affected the daily lives of residents, particularly school-going children, who struggle to travel safely. Even light rainfall results in waterlogging, while dry weather leaves the roads covered in dust, making movement difficult for pedestrians and motorists alike.
Riyas Khan alleged that despite repeated appeals, the authorities have failed to address the issue. He said local residents had earlier met the MLA of the Moirang Assembly Constituency and officials concerned, who assured them that the roads would be repaired at the earliest. However, no work has commenced despite those assurances.
“People have waited patiently for action, but the continued inaction has left residents with no option but to intensify their protest,” he said.
Warning of a stronger agitation, Riyas Khan announced that residents would block all roads within Kwakta Municipal Council Ward No. 8 if repair works do not begin by tomorrow. He held the MLA and the concerned authorities responsible for any inconvenience arising out of the proposed blockade, stating that the protest is being forced upon the people due to official apathy towards a long-pending public issue.