Editor,
The news regarding the agitation by the students of Kiang Nangbah Government College is quite disturbing. I think genuine students would not resort to such unruly and uncivilized behaviour. I do not know whether those who took part in the march from the college to the DC’s office on 10/ 11/2015 were really students. If they are students then they have exhibited their violent acts by intimidating the Principal, lecturers and staff of the college. Secondly they were caught on camera when they pelted stones at the law enforcing agencies. All right thinking citizens should condemn the acts of the students of Kiang Nangbah Government College which is highly unbecoming of a student. If they are not students of the college, then the District Administration should book them under stringent laws to deter others from doing the same and also to restore discipline in the college. In the meantime I would request the state government to look into the grievances of the students and the short comings of the college.
Yours etc.,
P Suja, Iawmawsiang,
Jowai
Rough journey to Tura
Editor ,
When one visits any town or city, the moment you are nearing the destination you will notice that the roads become wider and the ride smoother. On the contrary, a visitor from outside coming to Tura would experience a very unpleasant ride before entering Tura right from Rongram because of the narrow village type of road with rough surface. Tura has been the capital town of erstwhile Garo Hills since the British period. A number of eminent and colourful people including Late Captain W.A.Sangma, the first Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Purno A. Sangma, ‘former Lok Sabha Speaker, Dr. Mukul M. Sangma, the present Chief Minister and the like are settled. Some months ago a weary traveler, Kearson Sangma, had sounded the bugle about the deplorable condition of the approach road from Rongram to Tura. As a regular traveler on this wretched road, I endorse his views and would request the top officials of the PWD to see that widening of National Highway from Rongram to Tura be taken up with immediate effect. The journey from Rongram to Ganol bridge is somewhat tolerable. After that the road starts narrowing down from NEHU campus to Rongkhon bridge.
From Rongkhon, the small road becomes more congested and dangerous to move while covering the last 3 km distance via Chitoktak till you reach Chandmary field and Ringrey bridge, the nerve centre of Tura. People also would like to know the reaction of those powerful NGOs, various student organizations, leading politicians and other shouting brigades on this important issue. Are the people happy and satisfied with the present deteriorating condition of Rongram to Tura highway? If not, why do they remain silent for so long having travelled on this miserable road almost everyday. If the newly created capital town of Ampati could be connected with a two-lane beautiful highway constructed by foreign experts within a short time, why can the small road from Rongram to Tura not be widened in the last 50 years. Food for thought for every resident of Tura and time for all to come out and express their views frankly. . Come December, this very road is going to be choked with hundreds of vehicles every day when newly constructed Inter State Bus Terminus near Duragre petrol pump becomes operational. It is high time for our Chief Minister, Dr. MukuI Sangma to review his achievement record in the last four years and focus on immediate restoration of pathetic road condition from Rongram to Tura as the topmost priority.
Yours etc.,
Jonty Rhodes Sangma
Tura
Breakdown of civic responsibility
Editor,
The news items appearing in ‘The Shillong Times’ on November 30, 2015 and December 3, 2015, one relating to Wah Umkhrah and Umshyrpi and the other on The Shillong Municipal Board’s Public Notification on Proper Disposal of Waste, made me reflect on the pitiable attitude of the public at large. In addition, the concerned authorities have not been able to deliver because of their lackadaisical attitude. I’ve been associated with the organisation NEEDS which conducted studies and awareness programmes on the two ‘rivers’ from 2004-10. One of the basic findings is that the people have not been able to distinguish ‘drainage’ from ‘sewage’ and vice versa.
The drains from different households of the city continue to flow unabatedly into the two ‘drainage systems’. If this is allowed to continue, then the talk of reviving the two rivers will be a far cry. Any initiative be it the District Council Initiatives or the proposed project under Ministry of Water Resources or any other will just flow along the ‘two designated drains’. We see Shillong as a ‘ NO RULES’ city where all rules have been flouted. A walk to Motphran (Bara Bazar) will witness the utter chaos there where public roads have been converted to vegetable stalls and there you encounter multiple obstacles when you walk across the road. You will have to dodge the ever honking vehicles, get pushed by the pedestrians while struggling to avoid stepping on the vegetables. Dumping of garbage at different undesignated places all over the city has added more woes to the civic authorities.
Non municipal areas have not been able to come up with substantial and viable solution to manage waste from their respective localities. This is what these different ‘ Dorbars’ need to initiate with a workable solution to stop the Letters to the Editor must have the full name, address and contact number of the writer, even if they are sent by email. Only letters with the requisite details will be published. menace of ‘ plastic bags dumping’ in corners of the city as reported by this newspaper. Commercial areas like Laitumkhrah, Polo, Jail Road, Khyndai Lad (Police Bazar) and Iewduh (Bara Bazar) witness large scale generation of different categories of waste. If proper segregation is done at source and regulated collection is done, the situation would not have been as bad as what we see now. Shops and establishments have to have a separate categorization of waste management altogether because these institutions produce so much waste ranging from food waste, organic waste, plastics, cardboards, papers etc.
The civic authorities have to initiate a separate drive for such areas at specific timings when such establishments close for the day. Sometimes when we travel late at night or early in the morning, we would come across heaps of garbage dumped by people all over the city. Is there any mechanism to curb such menace? If one is determined, there are all possibilities. I understand that people’s mindsets and attitudes have to change for cleaner surroundings. However, a watchful and dynamic civic body armored with stringent punishment against the defaulters can bring about the desired change. I hope good sense prevails.
Yours etc.,
Gideon Kharkongor
Director, NEEDS