Editor,
At last the cat is out of the bag with the recent revelations by the arrested GNLA Chief Champion R. Sangma. It now vindicates the stand of Intelligence agencies that insurgent outfits like the GNLA have the support of political parties albeit covertly. If the Congress party vehemently denies such revelations how would Champion garner the guts to spill the beans to the media. But for obvious reasons every political party or politician will deny this symbiotic relationship with militant outfits and continue to do so. However, the electorate are not fools. If the statement of the GNLA chief is true then a bad precedence is being set in motion for this state and nation. Here in our state if we allow criminals to enter the August House on the pretext of being mediators, the sanctity of the House and the Constitution will soon be a thing of the past and what sort of legislature would we have then?
Yours etc.,
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong-3
SPTS we want tickets!
Editor,
I want to bring to your notice that on the September 19, 2012 I travelled from Laitumkhrah to Pohktieh, Nongthymmai by the SPTS bearing no ML01-6236. After paying the bus fare I observed that the conductor was hesitant to issue me a ticket till I strongly insisted that he give it to me. I also questioned him why he did not think it his duty to instantly issue the ticket to every passenger who paid the fare. To my surprise he answered in such a tone that annoyed me and that too with these words: ” Bun te bah kim juh kwah ticket?” (many passengers do not want tickets). Then I asked the lady sitting in front of me whether she had received the ticket or not ? She replied in the negative and said that she did look at him showing that she needed a ticket but he seemed to be avoiding her. Hence I want to suggest to the MUDA/ Operator to make it mandatory for every passenger to be given a ticket otherwise the fleet of buses will soon reach a point when they will not be maintained for want of funds. And I would exhort the conductor of ML01-6236 to do his duty as required by the MUDA/ Operator because not giving a ticket to a passenger means that the passenger is not accounted for and the money goes to private pockets. Simple as that! Besides, it irritates many a passenger like me.
Yours etc.,
Andy Syiem
Prayer or pandemonium?
Editor,
As I was growing I greatly admired the life of the armed forces and always perceived them to be disciplined and organised with the exception of the Assam Rifles. In the forces the basic lesson taught is religious tolerance towards one and all. I have lived outside Meghalaya for ten years and do not have any religious prejudices. I respect all religions. However that respect and love for the armed forces was shattered by my neighbours the Border Security Force (BSF) Mawpat where religion is associated with noise. Their life starts everyday at four in morning with a dose of religious chanting at full volume above the normal decibels which should be audible to themselves. Then the men take bath in full public view wearing scanty clothes.
Once I read that as per the law (a) The noise level in any public place, where loudspeakers or public address system or any other sound system is used shall not exceed 10 decibel (A) above the ambient noise standards for the area or 75 decibel (A) whichever is lower. (b) No one shall beat a drum or tom-tom or blow a trumpet or beat or sound any instrument or use any sound amplifier at night between 10. 00 pm until 6.am, except in public emergencies (c) The peripheral noise level of privately owned sound system shall not exceed more than 5 decibel (A) than the ambient air quality standard specified for the area in which it is used, at the boundary of the private place.
My question is whether this law is applicable to the BSF and the other armed forces and if so who is responsible for taking action. If it is the police then I believe the Police at Nongmynsong said, ‘It is the army that is responsible and they can’t take any action. Since the law on noise levels is applicable across the country then I believe that the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills should ask the BSF, Mawpat to lower the volume and not to play during the mentioned timings as it disturbs the normal life of the surrounding areas and of students and people doing night shift work. I do not want to appear intolerant but the constant chanting of ‘Om Jai Jagadish’ (though once it used to be a favorite with me even though I am of a different religion) from 4 am onwards is painful to the ears and makes us lose our sleep. Come Diwali and other festivals that are approaching, I am planning to go away to another locality where law and order is enforced and I do not have to suffer this noise pollution. Besides, when someone’s religion becomes a nuisance to others then it is a matter of time before hatred is born.
Yours etc.,
Dony K,
Via email
Land is precious
Editor,
Recently there was a call by a certain MLA to shift the flood hit people in the plains of Garo Hills to safer places. The Government should do nothing of the kind. Every year these “flood hit” people shift to such places and they do not return to their original habitat. These places are inevitably in the hills where the original inhabitants, namely the Garos reside. This annual exodus has put such strain on natural resources that it is bound to explode one day. We must realise that land is a vital resource and it is shrinking day by day. This is one of the factors for the recent trouble between the Bodos and the Muslim community in Bodoland, Assam. If Mr Sayeedullah Nongrum is so concerned about his constituents nothing stops him from shifting these people to where he actually comes from, that is in Khasi Hills.
Yours etc.,
Nesfield B Sangma