In Meghalaya there is opposition to everything under the sun. First there was opposition to development projects such as railways. Recently there is an impasse over the Umsning highway alignment. Then there were protests against the protracted traffic jams and about too many trucks passing through the city. So the PWD minister commits to divert empty coal trucks through Lad Umroi via the newly-inaugurated Umkhen bridge via Nartiang to Phra Mer in Jaintia Hills to connect to National Highway 44 from February 13 onwards. The D-day has arrived but the promise has not been made good. But even before the PWD Minister were to send the trucks through this route we now hear that the local people of Raid Thadrang are opposed to the idea. Their arguments is that the road is narrow and congested and it could pose a threat to the lives of people inhabiting the villages located along the road.
When the Government conceived of the Umroi diversion it should have foreseen that the stretch of road through Raid Thadrang is narrow and dangerous for heavy vehicles to pass through. But even if the Government has for some reason not realised this, should the people of the area not have pointed this out? In Meghalaya people in the know say that for every opposition there is money to be earned. That is why we hear of oppositions to this and that project and after a while then they die away quietly. The public is left in the dark about how the issue was resolved and how the matter has been sorted out. This can only mean that some private negotiation has taken place, some money has changed hands and therefore an opposition against a project was dropped covertly.
Of course it is also true that people are never taken into confidence before Government conceives of a project. Nor does the Government ever seek suggestions from stakeholders. So projects are crafted in opacity and when the funding for it comes there are objections galore; projects are stalled and money remains unspent. It is therefore important for Government to adopt a transparent system of project formulation and to take people along. Those who object to a project must come up in writing and not blackmail the Government. Opponents must have an alternative model in mind or remain silent. This means that our protests must be informed and positive and not merely an attempt to short-circuit development.