Editor,
I am deeply concerned over the prevailing law and order situation in Meghalaya where it appears that everything is in a state of anarchy. The state is being ruled by militants in Garo Hills and anti establishment organizations in the Khasi Hills. Life in Garo Hills has come to a standstill during this week. Not a single office, bank or business establishment is functioning. The well-to-do have their stocks of essential commodities. They can survive without much difficulties whereas the poor and daily wage earners are suffering the most. How many good souls have been lost during the bandh due to hunger, lack of medicines or medical attention, no one knows. The general public remain silent spectators. Some are supporting the militants, others are afraid to raise their voices against the militants and some are rank opportunists taking advantage of the situation for their ugly political mileage. When the town of Tura ran out of drinking water for two days every body barked in one voice against the PHE Department, whereas when they have to face miseries due to the bandh for one week, they forget about their basic rights.
Concerning the night road blockade in Khasi Hills region, enough loss has been caused by the three organizations to public properties directly and indirectly. Public vehicles are burnt in broad day light but no responsibility has been fixed on such organizations. The state government has become helpless. Night road blockade has caused traffic jams even during the day, causing immense miseries to every one especially the student community who have to reach their schools/ colleges/universities in time. How long can we carry on like this?
Yours etc.,
R Lyngdoh,
Shillong-8
BSNL clarification
Editor,
Apropos the press clips in your esteemed news paper on Poor BSNL Network in Nongstoin” April 30 2012 ” and ” Pathetic BSNL !” May 2, 2012, it may kindly be noted that we are taking the matter very seriously for solving the poor bandwidth problems. The services especially Broadband were affected due to rampant OFC cable break downs, due to road widening works being carried out in Nongstoin – Mairang section. This OFC carries high bandwidth applications, even mobile voice calls are also getting affected, but somehow we are managing these services on Microwave systems.
On the issue “Pathetic BSNL”, we express regret on the inconvenience faced by our esteemed loyal customer Dr Neelanjan Roy, on the poor support front. We would like to inform our invaluable customer that we have sound customer grievances handling cells, the details for which are available in BSNL’s website. Our officials in NIB and Outdoor cell are informed to take extra precautions to resolve the complaints. Any discourteous behaviour from them will be dealt with very stringently.
We would be grateful if you can inform the esteemed readers on the matter through your daily.
Yours etc.,
Arvind Kumar M
DyGM BSNL Meghalaya
Parking maladies
Editor,
Parking spaces in traffic-congested Shillong are so limited that car owners are willing to risk the traffic policeman ‘s wrath for a few square feet of parking space. Even our honourable representatives are willing to take that chance, but that’s another story. As if this is not enough, we have a new breed of nuisance makers in the guise of parking fee collectors. If you ever park your car in any available space in Shillong, especially Khlieh-iew you are sure to encounter such a species whose hand is always stretched and the only syllable that he gruffly barks are “Parking!” as if that’s his birthright.
Granted that we all have to pay our parking dues but my argument here is based on the fact that these ‘species’ more often than not, are simply thugs and conmen with an eye for easy money. Obliging citizens that we are, we pay them without batting an eyelid (after all, what’s ten or twenty bucks these days, we assure ourselves).
I have been haggling with these ‘species’ for donkey years, sometimes almost coming to blows, but to no avail. Hence my request to parking lot contractors and genuine collectors is that you wear uniforms or carry a valid identity card to avoid any misunderstanding with common citizens, like me for example.
Shillongites wake up and smell the coffee…err….umm….car fumes I mean. Let’s not be taken for a ride by these unscrupulous entrepreneurs; after all the ride is yours only. Refuse to pay parking tickets where no slips are issued, insist on parking slips always and be wary of the outstretched hand of the ‘species’, he may be trying to nip your expensive car stereo!
Your etc.,
Aaron Warjri,
Shillong-6