PWD vs PHE
The tug of war between the PWD and PHE continues unabated.
While the rest of the world talks of convergence for better governance these two departments believe in isolation and divergence in the way they function.
The PWD has been blaming the PHE for the condition of the footpath near Civil Hospital. The footpath which was damaged due to the collapse of the boundary wall of the said hospital is lying unrepaired for the last six month.
Secondly, the so-called beautification project at Khyndailad seems to have hit a major roadblock even while passers-by are inhaling all the dust and grime on that muddy stretch. What the PWD does not realize is that Khyndailad is a commercial hub and the same work in the heart of Gangtok took exactly five months to complete.
The recent rainfall has turned the entire stretch into a quagmire and many have slipped and fallen. But who cares? The PWD attributed the mess to leaking pipes from nearby buildings and passed the buck to the PHE.
Indeed passing the buck is a favourite pastime of most Departments of the Government.
But the buck has to stop somewhere. The PWD cannot blame the PHE for its own slackness.
An irate public feels that the time has come for Government to set a time line for every project abd to punish those who default.
Now people want the Urban Affairs Minister to reply as to when the pedestrianised path a la Gangtok.
Raj Bhawan
The Raj Bhawan (Governor’s House) was the centre of attraction during the recently concluded Republic Day celebration.
The entrance to the Raj Bhawan was decorated with colorful lights and display boards showcasing various themes. The trees were decorated with small bulbs that shimmered in the night. And with the Governor offering a generous opportunity to the public to tour the plush premises for two days last week as a run up to the Republic Day, many curious visitors turned up at Government House.
A couple of tourists passing by thought that the place was an amusement park and went inside with much curiosity.
A tourist from Odisha said that he realized it was the Raj Bhavan only when he had entered the premises.
School students and other young visitors were delighted by the excellent ambience inside and the green lawns bathed in colorful lights.
The fully illuminated Raj Bhawan was visible from a distance. Many feel that the Shillong Raj Bhawan has a charm of its own! They are not incorrect. It is the pride and joy of Shillong!
Congress’s pitched battles
The Block level elections of the Congress party for projecting candidates for the Assembly elections next year has created major rifts between those who got themselves elected and those who could not.
It is learnt that prospective candidates had to pay Rs 50,000 upfront as fees for the conduct of these elections.
Some of the wannabe candidates have also allegedly used money extravagantly to woo the electors to vote for them.
Said a wag, “We wonder if the Election Commission is aware of this. If elections only at the Block Congress level with only about one thousand plus voters cost Rs 50,000, plus some more then we can imagine how much the real election would cost?”
Militants moving around in VIP vehicles
Sometimes the Shillong jottings team also visits places beyond Shillong. Recently they visited Garo Hills and learnt that the GNLA militants move around in VIP vehicles.
Since VIP vehicles hardly get checked (policemen are ready to salute any vehicle with a red beacon), militants have it easy when they wish to leave the jungles and come to civilization to kidnap officials or business people for ransom.
The team even knows the name of the VIP whose car is being (mis) used but would leave it to the Police Intelligence to spill the beans because it appears that this particular department is on holiday. If journalists know the movement of the GNLA how come the police do not?