Editor,
Apropos the news item, “Meghalaya does not need sprawling Raj Bhavan (ST February 16, 2012) where Deputy Chief Minister, Bindo Lanong suggested to take away some portion of the Raj Bhavan for widening of road, I have a strong objection to this idea on the grounds that the Raj Bhavan has been a unique place and highly dignified location right from the British time till date. If the layout of the Raj Bhavan is disturbed, its beauty, uniqueness, dignity and greenery will be distorted. There are many other options to widen the roads and to ease the traffic in the area other than such negative thoughts. It appears the attitude of our politicians these days has become so destructive to the extent that they do not mind if important locations and structures are disfigured and destroyed without a second thoughts. A striking example is their attempt to dismantle a heritage structure like Tara Ghar and to eliminate those beautiful pine trees standing thereon!
These days one experiences more traffic congestion at Barik Point than at the Raj Bhavan junction because of the national highway and the taxi stand located at Barik Point. I would suggest to the Government to dismantle the Brightwell Bungalow and make it a proper taxi stand and parking lot for parking of vehicles which ferry visitors to and from the Lady Hydari Park located nearby. This will ease the traffic congestion at Barik Point as well as generate revenue for the government.
Yours etc.,
B R M Syiem,
Shillong -4
Delayed wisdom
Editor,
It was heartening to learn from The Shillong Times-( Feb 21, 2012) that the Government has finally decided to amend the Catchment Areas Act, 1990. I have a personal satisfaction as the issue was highlighted by the undersigned and the need to review and amend the same way back in 2004. There were very few then who were aware of the existence of this “dormant” Act. A number of recommendations and suggestions was furnished to the concerned departments since 2004 including a detailed article in the Shillong Times under caption – A case for reviewing Catchment Areas Act, City’s endangered water sources ( ST December 22, 2004). One hopes that the amendment will finally become a reality this time and not remain a paper exercise like the existing Act, conceived in haste without study of ground realities. This Act in its present form is virtually redundant due to the limitations of undertaking any corrective measures as per section 6 of the Act. There is a serious hurdle in Section 5 of the Act which prevents the invocation of the provisions from section 6 to 17. The Minister in charge Environment and Forests has rightly outlined the need for total amendment of section 5 which stipulates that consent of the land owner is mandatory to declare a catchment as critical or non-critical. The Meghalaya Catchment Area Rules which came into being in 1996 preceded by formation of Task Force & Advisory Board for all districts in 1993 also require total review. A draft of the proposed amendment has to be put in the public domain to educe suggestions and opinions of stakeholders so that this time the amended Act & Rules therein, can actually be implemented to check the rampant desecration of catchments or whatever remains of them.
Yours etc
Naba Bhattacharjee
Shillong-4
Corrigendum
Editor,
In response to the new item published in The Shillong Times dated 15th February 2012, it is hereby informed to the NGOs, the Press, the Students and the People in general that ICFAI University Meghalaya has been set up vide the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India University Meghalaya Act 2005, Act No. 12 of 2005, passed by the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya. The university has been notified under Notification No. EDN.261/2004/124 Dated 22nd February 2006. The University is empowered by the UGC to award Degrees in the IG and PO Level under Section 22 of UGC Act 1956. The Headquarter of the University is at Tura, Meghalaya, The ICFAI Society, Hyderabad, is the sponsoring body or ICFAI University Meghalaya and has not severed any ties with ICFAI University Meghalaya, The Faculty Members have been recruited on the basis of their qualification. A permanent Campus of the University is at near completion at Tura. The land acquisition at Shillong could not be completed because of the sudden promulgation of the Land Transfer Act or the Government of Meghalaya, The strength of Students in ICFAI University Meghalaya, combining both the Campuses at TURA and Shillong, stand Correct at 315. Since the University is empowered by the UGC to award Degrees to all the courses offered by the ICFAI University Meghalaya hence it does not require the accreditation of AICTE.
Yours etc.,
Dr M S Sangma
Pro Vice Chancellor
ICFAI University Meghalaya
Tura