Editor,
While appreciating the State Government and the MTC for introducing the much-awaited SPTS buses in the city thereby providing much needed relief to commuters who are otherwise held to ransom by unscrupulous taxi drivers, the million dollar question remains, whether the service is sustainable in the long run. I was provoked to pose this query following an observation made by a friend who traveled on one of the SPTS buses the other day. This friend boarded the bus at Khyndai Lad point to go to Laitumkhrah. The bus was jam-packed so the conductor refused to allow any passenger to board the bus from Barik Point onwards.
When the friend alighted at his destination, he demanded for the ticket in lieu of the fare. The conductor immediately reacted as if the passenger had no right to ask for the ticket. Amused, the friend persisted and finally managed to wrest the ticket from the conductor. But what was surprising was that not a single passenger asked for ticket. Clearly, the passengers don’t care about the importance of revenue generation. It is also easy to deduce that the entire collection would go into the pockets of the conductor and the driver while the government would be bereft of the revenue which is essential for sustaining the bus service.
Call it ignorance or lack of will, we the people, who for long have been demanding for a reliable public transportation system in the city, should now also ensure that the bus service runs efficiently. What happens if the service fails due to these fraudulent practices and Government withdraws the bus service citing lack of revenue generation? Should we blame the conductor and the driver or ourselves?
I would be watching this space to check out responses and comments from commuters who travel on these buses but do not ask for tickets.
Yours etc.,
S Kar,
Shillong-2
Easy riding
Editor,
The deployment of the 40 odd Shillong Transport Buses has finally brought back equitable and even-handed commuter service to the harried citizens of this city. With it we were also able to throw out, with a huge sense of satisfaction, the absurd argument that shared taxis are a unique form of Shillong Public Transport system which we should be proud of. It is nothing of the sort! It was an imposed system of transport monopoly by uncouth, arrogant and totally irresponsible cab drivers over a hapless community. It was a public insult ably abetted by the authorities concerned. Now, at last, we have a chance to redeem this wrong .
The Government, the ministers for Transport and Urban Affairs, the officers involved in the introduction of the new system need to be commended for this initiative which has caught the imagination and support of the public as nothing has in the last few decades. More so the call for public comments and criticism on the performance of this new experiment is a positive step towards making the public, the real owners of the new system and of introducing an element of accountability and transparency in its operation.
Shillong taxis lost their popularity out of sheer stupidity. The obnoxious behaviour of their drivers towards the passengers – the source of their livelihood! The Transport Minister must therefore ensure that this mistake does not repeat itself with his buses. Both the conductor and driver of these buses must be given regular and periodic training on passenger management techniques. A small investment that usually pays huge dividends in public relations! Also a locked grievance box together with formats on which the bus No and a list of common passenger grievances should be easily made available on the bus itself for aggrieved passengers to tick. The box must be daily checked by higher authorities and prompt remedial action taken on its contents. Helps keep everyone on their toes!
These are some suggestions on how to make the new city bus service sustainable and efficacious. We hope that the department continues with its commendable service to the public of Shillong. Keep it up Mr Mondal!
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah,
Shillong-2
No shallow arguments, please!
Editor,
I am bewildered by the recent news reports of attempts by the miners to thwart the implementation of the Mining Policy. Their atrocious claim of traditional mining practices is completely absurd. If their dream of tradition takes away the land of the poor destroys forests, poisons rivers, kills wildlife and threatens the very survival of the people then it is high time they do away with tradition.
There is also no provision under the Sixth Schedule or the mythical Land Tenure System, as they claim, that awards the indigenous people of Meghalaya the right to illegal mining. It is shocking how these illegal miners can stroll into any government office and demand more rights to illegal mining. I urge Mr. Bindo Lanong to hurl the book at them if they slither into his office again and to pay no heed to their lies and nonsense. The Government of Meghalaya owes its people justice by putting these illegal miners in their place and restoring the natural condition of our state.
The aftermath of illegal mining if not checked, will affect Shillong directly. As it already is, Khliehriat Sub-Division is becoming uninhabitable with acute water shortage, disappearing farm lands, crimes on the rise and influx of illegal migrant workers turning the locals into minorities. If some sort of prevention is not taken to control the mindless destruction there will be a mass exodus of people into Shillong looking for land, houses and water. This situation is also taking shape in the mining areas of Garo Hills. The issue of mining is a concern for everyone in the state and not just entertaining the fanciful opinions of a handful of barbarians whose goal is to turn Meghalaya into an environmental disaster.
The Government has the support of the majority of the people and it should champion the cause to protect the environment and our natural heritage.
Yours etc.
C Lyngdoh
Jowai