Editor,
Apropos the news item “100 years dam reconstructed”(ST 17th June 2012),I question the logic of the State Soil and Water Conservation Department in demolishing the original dam. Our forefathers have designed and planned the said dam using local materials to construct it. That the dam has lasted 100 years and still serves its purpose reflects the ingenuity and wisdom of our forefathers. This should serve as a showcase to visitors from outside. Unfortunately , the present generation fails to appreciate this and in an instant demolished this valuable structure and replaced it with a cement concrete dam just because money is available in plenty .I am no pessimist but there is no guarantee that this new structure will serve its purpose for even a fraction of the time that the original dam has served given the well established fact that reservoirs formed by the construction of cement concrete dams are usually prone to early siltation. This is compounded by the fact that the catchment of the river Myntdu is already adversely affected by human interference in the form of quarrying, deforestation , encroachments and disposal of waste from Jowai town into the river.
Ironically, it is understood that no additional area has been brought up for irrigation by the reconstruction of the dam. So what is the logic in demolishing the old structure? By its namesake, the Soil and Water Conservation Department is mandated to promote proper land use in the catchments for long term health of the soil and to ensure sustained availability and flow of quality water to rivers and streams . The Department is also expected to tap spring water and excess rain water and to conserve this water for future use. It has no business to construct big dams for irrigation. That the officials of the Department presently deviate from their original agenda means they are under the influence of the contractor–politician nexus on decision making . Further, if the allegation that the officials themselves function as contractors is true then no doubt effective programmes for water conservation have been shelved or relegated to the margins to be replaced by major but ineffective construction works for immediate interest. This is a dangerous trend as it indicates the absence of real custodians of our water resources for which our future generation will have to pay a heavy price
Yours etc.,
Skhembor Laloo,
Via email
Role of NGOs
Editor,
With reference to the role played by the NGOs in our society it seems the writers have a short-lived memory. Way back in 2005 during at the height of the MBOSE imbroglio it was the KSU which was at the forefront of the movement and we all know how the end results benefited the student community. Again when it comes to the issue of uranium mining it was the KSU that spearheaded the movement against the project. With the recent nuclear leak at the Fukushima plant, people around the world have begun to realize the danger of nuclear power plants and are opting for a safer environment. These days we all see that the NGOs have become the voice of the rural poor. People with problems would seek the help of NGOs instead of their elected representatives. Again, coming back to the railway project, I admit it is the need of the hour as it is the best way for tackling rising costs, but let us not talk only the benefits. Let us also look at the ramifications. Less then 10 years ago we allowed the cement factories in Meghalaya to be set up with tall promises that they would solve unemployment problems. Today with unscientific mining of minerals we are heading towards environmental catastrophe. This is so because we don’t have a mechanism in place to monitor the activities of these factories. Same will be the case with the railway project. We need to have a mechanism to contain any illegal entry. Let us bear in mind the adage, “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.”
Yours etc.,
Ronald Thabah,
Era of Tuition
Editor,
A lot has been discussed about the education system in the state. Is it at par with other state boards or does it match the quality of the Central Board? However, as a concerned citizen I would also like to bring to light another side of our education system which to me is quiet disturbing. It is the tuition bazaar as I would like to call it. Why is private tuition necessary for Science students? Do these students really need tuition? If yes, what is wrong with the teaching and lecturing in the classroom? With tuition houses turning into big businesses, the teacher-student ratio is the same as it is in any school or college. I raise this issue because we talk a lot about stress nowadays. After sitting in class the whole day it is stressful for a student to go for an extended tuition class. Is it not possible to produce toppers and first divisioners without private tuition? I have observed that our toppers put in a lot of hard work but also pay a fortune in tuition fees, apart from the college fees. This is the reason why education has become so expensive. There is serious need to look into this issue and to raise the quality of teaching in our institutions and to produce good scientists and engineers without making education unaffordable.
Yours etc.,
Ronald E Lyngdoh
Shillong-2