Editor,
Apropos the news item, “Woman died due to traffic jam” (ST Dec 31, 2011)
it is terrible that such a tragedy had to be faced by a family because of the traffic jam. God forbid but many may face similar tragedies because of the persistent traffic jam for which there seems to be no solution unless a strong decision is taken by the Government to hit at the root cause, and that is coal mining which benefits only the few but causes misery to many. Why does the government not temporarily suspend coal mining activity until a proper road infrastructure is in place. Of what use is the revenue to the State if the people endlessly suffer? The Chief Minister has to take a
courageous decision if he really cares for the people. Otherwise he has
to take the moral responsibility for the loss of the life of the woman and of the several accidents that occur on the NH 40 and 44 on a daily basis. In western countries, heads would have rolled if a precious life is lost due to negligence and indifference.
Yours etc.,
P Marbaniang.,
Via email
Kudos to traffic cops
Editor,
Through your esteemed column, I would like to congratulate the policemen who acted with courage by issuing summons to the VIPs without any fear. By doing this they are boosting the morale of the other police personnel. I hope the Meghalaya Government will pat their backs by giving them some reward on Republic day. Kudos to Meghalaya Police. I salute you.
Yours etc.,
Prasenjit Das Purkayastha.
Shillong – 4
Meghalaya and tourism
Editor,
It is really sad to see garbage littered all over the places of tourist interest in this once pristine hill station of ours. I left Shillong a couple of decades ago to pursue higher and professional studies in central India. It used to give me immense pleasure to tell people that the place I come from is a very green and clean city called Shillong. But now, all I can say is, ‘How green was my valley,’ as I see mushrooming of concrete jungles all around the city. Big unplanned houses and housing complexes are taking over the greener spaces such as paddy fields and orchards. This is in turn has resulted in dumping of garbage anywhere as there is no foolproof garbage disposal plan. The magnitude of this problem can be seen in places such as Golf-Links, Shillong View Point and the area around it. Heaps of garbage is strewn around. Empty broken bottles, beer cans, plastic bags are common sights. The worse part is that these are not bio-degradable and can pose a serious environmental threat in the future. It is high time to stop this reckless disposal of garbage before the situation reaches alarming point.
It will be very helpful if local bodies and the Dorbar Shnong keep an eye on such offenders who leave a heap of garbage after a picnic party. A penalty should also be imposed on such people who are least bothered about the environment. I wish to reiterate that there is a constant growth taking place in the tourism sector in Meghalaya and if we want to see it grow to a respectable level then we have to get our acts together especially people who are involved in making and implementing state tourism policies. I have been visiting many European countries for the past 14-15 years. My observation is that countries such as Spain ,Croatia, Estonia, Finland etc have understood the meaning of tourism promotion and have developed the sector by leaps and bounds during the past 15 years. But I am not comparing our state to those countries. However, a strong will to achieve some success can only spring out from fresh and innovative minds which I am sure will propel us in the right direction. Let’s be optimistic about it.
Yours etc.,
Rajesh Swarnakar,
Via email
Mega dams and ‘Bharat Ratna’
Editor,
On December 19, 2011 the Assam Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution urging the Central Government of India to confer the highest civilian award ‘Bharat Ratna’ on Bhupen Hazarika posthumously. There are worthier things to do other than wasting the tax-payers’ money in assembly sittings for ‘resolutions’ of this type. Just as Jitumoni Kalita’s winning a dance competition, Debojit Saha winning a singing competition or Ananya Banajyotsna participating in talent ‘hunt’ shows is not going to help the masses of Assam. Similarly Assam MLAs begging for ‘Bharat Ratna’ for Bhupen Hazarika is not going to help the cause of the state and its people.
Bhupen Hazarika was an artist of the masses. His songs echoed the concerns of the grassroots. The balladeer’s departed soul would be happier if the Assam Assembly demanded scrapping of the mega dam projects going on in the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra, be it in Arunachal Pradesh or China. Will there be a resolution against mega dams on rivers of Himalayan origin? It seems profit-sharing is more important than anything else in the 21st century format of nationalism. Over 63 years, nationalism has taken the form of crony-capitalism. The grassroots will be the worst sufferers of this medieval European concept, which will only profit the political class in the coming decades.
Members of Parliament from Kerala are demonstrating against the ‘endangered’ Mullaperiyar dam and demanding its demolition. But people’s representatives of Assam are busy begging for perks and awards from the central government. After Arunachal Pradesh, Assam has become the puppet state of the Indian Union. Weak leadership has made these north-eastern states devoid of choice and voice. The government machinery of these states is reduced to mere extension of central bureaucracy, as if employed in military servitude.
Yours etc.,
Pallavi Barua,
Shillong – 4