Editor,
The government of Meghalaya has proposed the railway project from Tetelia to Byrnihat and another from Lanka (Assam) to Sutnga (Jaintia Hills). Personally I support the government move provided the proposed project intends to allow only transportation of essential commodities for human consumption such as rice, atta, sugar etc from other states to Meghalaya and vice versa and that too, if the same are not being opposed by the local NGOs. But what I want to highlight here is the poor road connectivity from one village to another to ease the expenditure of transporting agricultural goods like potatoes, cauliflower, radish etc.
From a farmer’s perspective, I would like to point out that if more rural markets were created the people from rural areas will be contented to stay in their villages and avoid coming to Shillong to sell their goods on the footpath or to work in commercial areas. The schemes from different departments of Meghalaya such as Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Horticulture, Fisheries, Irrigation, Industries etc should provide more opportunities to rural farmers and business people and also create awareness about the facilities available to the unemployed youth of the rural areas.
Further, on the much-hyped topic on traffic, I would like to suggest that the other road which could ease the congestion in Shillong is the one through Umiam via Lawmei-Mawmih-Krang- Nongthliew up to Mawmaram village and beyond by constructing a two lane road allowing trucks coming Nongstoin, Mairang, etc to ply to Guwahati and pass through Mawmaram onwards.
These places mentioned above require a lot of make-over and with the construction of this road, the people will also find employment around their villages. Moreover with the availability of schools and college like UCC, they will be less tempted to migrate to Shillong and populate the already populated city.
Yours etc.,
IS Mawrie
Laitjem