Editor,
I am a student of St. Anthony’s college, I’m 21 years old and reside in Mawkhar. I’ve noticed a few things recently concerning people around my age that I would like to bring to your notice.
I know that the youth of Shillong love their music – a testament to that being that any one of them seldom lacks a set of earphones in their vicinity at all times. But I think this has got out of hand in recent times. I’m not saying that they shouldn’t enjoy their music; they have every right to do so, but some of them should really watch where they’re going while walking in the streets – and listening to music through their earphones. I’ve seen too many cases where some of them miss getting hit by a vehicle by a hair’s breadth.
When night falls its a different story. The earphones are given a rest for some and they get into their cars and decide to share their love of music with passers-by whether they want to hear it or not. Even past midnight, they lack the common decency and respect for people who are trying to sleep and blast their music so loud that even the windows literally vibrate.
These few lacking in civic sense are giving the youth of Shillong a bad reputation. And yet so many of the same want respect. Well, all I can say is, you get what you give and if they want to be respected and be treated like mature individuals, then perhaps they can try showing some respect to themselves and to the society.
Yours etc.,
Aimesha Kurbah Mawlong,
Shillong – 1.
Street lights please!
Editor,
I would like to draw the attention of the Shillong Municipal Board and the Meghalaya Electrical Power Corporation Ltd, through your esteemed newspaper, to the sorry state of street lights in Shillong. Starting from Malki point, right upto Dhankheti Junction, no street lights are in working condition. Again from Malki to Kacheri (DC’s office) no street lights are working there too. Same is the case with the National Highway from Shillong Civil Hospital to Rilbong Point. Thanks to flashing head lights from vehicles which keep the streets lighted up to 8 or 8:30 PM, we tend forget the importance of the street lights. But once the vehicles are off the road, the above stretch of road plunges into an eerie darkness. If the condition is like this, more or less in the heart of the city, then the conclusion one would draw about other parts of the city would not be encouraging. I therefore request the SMB and MeECL to act and prevent Shillong from slowly degenerating into a city of dark streets.
Yours etc
J. Paul,
Via email
No time for blame game
Editor,
A lot of dust has been raised on the deplorable road condition of Police Bazar and to some extent the digging of the road next to Don Bosco Youth Centre. As far as the latter is concerned the excavation was carried out to improve the drainage network of Laitumkhrah – particularly the locality of Bhatt Colony, Veronica Lane and adjoining low lying areas which have been exposed to recurrent floods during the monsoons, year after year for the last five decades or more, with flood waters entering into houses at regular intervals, during high rainfall. The intervention was to ease the suffering of the public residing in these flood prone localities. Although it is right that such works in an education hub should have been taken up during winter vacation, it was inevitable since this type of work has to be undertaken during the monsoons to simultaneously estimate the discharge and flow rate during heavy rain which causes flooding of those areas. The concerned department deserves appreciation for completing the work in record time working round the clock. As regards Khyndailad, while not being privy to the internal dynamics of working and financial arrangement between two departments, it was evident that co ordination between Urban Affairs & P.W.D. – the executing agency for beautification of Khandailad was not very congenial. In fact, Minister Urban Affairs was even not in the list of invitees for the inaugural function and laying of foundation stone of the project and was seen standing with the common denizens. Thus, it once again amplifies that like hundreds of other cases, this issue is also due to overlapping and lack of synergy between departments resulting in intense suffering of the common man. So why blame Minister Urban Affairs alone?
Yours etc
Naba Bhattacharjee
Shillong-4.
All for a cause!
Editor,
Apropos to Paul Lyngdoh’s letter, I would like to state that my criticism was not meant to ridicule the individual or spark a heat on the perplexing issue related to illegal migration, railways, connectivity etc. Railways are essential for the improvement, development and prosperity of our state. I support his view that the state should have connectivity only for goods trains at this moment but how long can we put such a national project in the back burner and shelve it? On the other hand I differ with Paul Lyngdoh that, while his party, the UDP eat from the same plate as the Congress how can it continue to threaten to pull out just as a mere public gesture. Is the UDP not enjoying the perks of this coalition? For one, illegal migration and influx are two different terms and these will continue to plague us even in the near future unless collectively we join hands in finding a solution that is well-balanced.
Yours etc.,
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong-3