Editor,
Barnes L. Mawrie in his article, “Is India prepared for democracy?” (ST July 16 2011) laments that Indians have no civic sense. Dominic Wankhar too (ST July 21 2011) has echoed the anguish of many a concerned citizen about Shillong wallowing in its own filth. I cringe when I hear Shillong touted as the “Scotland of the East.”
Recently my niece was driving along the road near Polo Towers when she spied a neatly dressed gentleman with a waste bin in his hands. He was dumping the contents into the river! Instinctively she stopped and confronted the man. He apologised to her but said he was not throwing garbage on the road.
This is just a small but telling example of who and why people dirty the city. On early morning jaunts you will find people dumping waste into streams with carefree abandon because a stream here is seen as nothing more than a waste dumping “nullah.” How they can with live with the stench emanating from these streams into their homes is beyond me. Walking through many parts of the city is a test of endurance rather than a healthy pleasurable exercise. Iew Duh and Police Bazaar are particularly disgusting! I have never seen Shillong looking so run down and uncared for.
The main problem is that we don’t have a uniform waste disposal system. Waste management has not been thought of seriously enough. I don’t know if we even have any waste management acts. Ideally the municipal should have a policy whereby segregation of waste should be done at source .i.e. at the site where the garbage is collected like private homes, institutions like hospitals, hotels, restaurants etc. In this manner recyclable matter and non-biodegradable material should be separated from bio-degradable material. In developed countries they have different coloured bins to ensure this.
There are many who are concerned but don’t know where to start. Some like Dr. Jemino Mawthoh are doing wonderful work trying to clean the Wah Umhkhrah and other sites. This however calls for a more concerted effort on our part. Khasi localities hold cleaning drives two or three times a year and as Dominic Wankhar has said these localities maintain sustainable cleanliness throughout. I happen to live in Pohkseh where my good neighbours take out their brooms every morning and sweep the road outside their homes.
We will have to appeal to our legislators to come up with a sustainable policy. I am hopeful that Kong Ampareen will champion this cause for which we will all support her whole heartedly. Perhaps she is the first minister in a long time to show interest in cleaning up Shillong. Cleanliness awareness must start in schools and colleges, our homes and durbar shnong and of course our churches have a big role to play.
Yours etc.,
Pauline Warjri,
Shillong -6
New look ST
Editor,
It was a pleasant surprise to see the new look of the ST web page which I regularly read for news updates and on what is making news in Shillong and Meghalaya. I really liked the colors highlighting the different menu and tabs; it’s really interactive and user friendly. I appreciate the hard work undertaken. Congratulations to you and your entire team and keep up the good work so that those who are far away from home get the opportunity to read the news every day.
Yours etc..
Dapmain Mawrie,
Bangalore