A 3 Kilometer stretch of NH 99 between Balumath and Panki More has turn into a mine of dust. Residents and shop keepers are badly affected following this storm of dust that engulfs their houses and shops every minute when a heavy coal loader passes through the stretch.
Locals complained that ahead of festive time houses and shops get a fresh coat of paint and white washing but the dust is making heel out of that.
Balumath has seen two episodes of public protest against NH 99 dust asking Latehar administration to ameliorate their sufferings.
NH 99 was jammed here for two hours on two successive days here this outgone week. Residents and shop keepers are demanding two things. One is limit the number of heavy coal loader vehicles on this road in day time. Second sprinkle water on the highly damaged portions of NH 99.
Sources said neither the CCL nor the Latehar administration is any keen to do the needful. Jay Prakash Jha SDO Latehar when contacted said, “ NH 99 here in Balumath is in extremely pitiable condition. It is no NH but a dusty road.
It has to be repaired by NHAI (National Highway Authority of India) officials of Jharkhand unit. Here our role is limited.”
Asked that Jharkhand unit of NHAI can be pressured to undertake this repair without any more loss of time Jha said, “We have been doing this but in vain. As regards heavy coal loader vehicles passing through this NH 99 CCL have their own problem. CCL has told us that coal transportation from its Tetarya colliery is being done by out sourced agency. The coal laden vehicles are all outsourced. The dust is raised by their fleet of vehicles. CCL cannot do anything in this regard. It cannot even go for sprinkling of water on this part of NH 99.”
Jha added, “We cannot limit number of coal lorries to ply here every day as this will affect thermal power stations located as far as MP where this dispatch of coal is rushed by CCL from this region.”
There has been imposed no entry for 6 hours of heavy duty coal vehicles a day with 2 hour slab but this too proves insufficient SDO Latehar admitted. Sources said by this account residents and shopkeepers of Balumath are left to their own destiny of dust!
Sources said neither NHAI Jharkhand unit is any serious about this not the Latehar administration. Sources said locals are skeptical if any elected representatives right from panchayat level to the Vidhan Sabha to the Lok Sabha will be of any help.
Balumath comes under Chatra lok sabha segment whose MP is Sunil Kumar Singh and sources said this MP has no time to take up this issue with Jharkhand unit of NHAI.