Editor,
Apropos the report, “Bindo’s assertion contradicted” (ST 7.11.12), it appears that Dy CM Bindo Lanong is trying to confuse the public regarding acceptance of the Mining Policy. Environmentalists like HH Mohrmen have refuted Lanong’s claim and called it ‘misleading’. Two issues were raised by environmentalists – 1) Rat-hole mining and 2) preservation of ecologogically sensitive areas. Both are valid and pertinent issues which have not been addressed. So how can the minister claim that the stakeholders have accepted the policy? He also has no clue whether the National Mining Regulation is applicable in Meghalaya as per Mohrmen’s statement. But the part that worries me the most is contained in the last paragraph of the article. It appears the Govt has kept a loophole whereby it can amend the provisions of the Mining Policy with a mere notification at any point of time. This shows that the intent of the minister is highly questionable since it exposes the State to the danger of clauses being inserted into the policy in favour of the miners once the hue and cry has died down! What kind of hypocrisy is this? Its time the Mining portfolio was taken away from Lanong and given to a sensible individual who has the State’s interests at heart.
Yours etc,
Raymond Ingti
Jowai
Lanong contradicted yet again!
Editor,
Why is Bindo Lanong hell-bent on pushing the agenda of the coal mining lobby? Isn’t it strange that the minister has refused to address all environmental concerns in his watered-down mining policy and instead seeks to strengthen the stand of the rich miners by virtually giving them a ‘licence to loot’? Can Bah Lanong explain to the public how his Mining Policy is going to help the state? To top it all, he now tries to mislead us by asserting that all stakeholders are in agreement with him on this policy! Also, can Bah Lanong explain how a billion rupee mining industry be treated as a cottage industry? Or will he now claim that the miners are running at a loss and should be bailed out by the government a la Kingfisher Airlines? Nothing surprises me anymore where the mining department is concerned!
Yours etc.,
James Pariat
Shillong
Mark Tampering, Rat-hole Mining et al
Editor,
Media reports of mark tampering unearthed by the CBI reminds me of an incident in St. Edmund’s college many years ago. This happened about a year before I joined the college and probably the last year of M G Shannon as the principal of the college. A boy in Class XII, then called Pre-University Science who had scored 19 in a subject put a short horizontal line joining the digit 1, remaking the score 79. It was found out and brought to the notice of the principal.
This boy brought a relative who was a Catholic and a student leader to negotiate. The principal stood up and gestured the student leader to come and occupy his chair, if he wants to negotiate this matter. Needless to say, it was because of the strong moral characters of the college authorities that such an institution was esteemed not only in the region but all over India, and Shillong became to be known as an educational centre.
What lesson can we learn from this short real life story vis-à-vis the charges against Ampareen Lyngdoh and other MLAs recommending unqualified primary teachers? Personally, I can’t believe Kong Ampareen would accept bribe. She could have succumbed to pressures from her colleagues and party workers.
We, as dumbfounded citizens would like to know what exactly happened. Let the primary teachers who were in the final list also speak out, if they had paid 3 or 5 lakhs (or more) each to secure appointments. This is the right time to nail the MLAs. It would sinful, to either give or take money. Or are the MLAs rewarding them for helping to secure their seats?
The state is rolling down an abyss. Does anyone care?
The damage done was not only to those who missed appointment, but these unqualified teachers are going to churn out school drop outs and juvenile delinquents and subsequently fill the overcrowded prisons. It is a big blow to the unemployed youths of the state.
Now that Ampareen is in the docks, not knowing what is going to happen next, the happiest person who stands to gain votes in the coming election is none other than a mute spectator, B M Lanong, who has kow-towed to rat hole coal miners.
But the truth is that even birds and fishes are against these coal barons and politicians who are working in tandem to destroy the environment and natural habitats of all creatures to fulfil their insatiable lust for power and wealth. It is my earnest prayer that these wrong-doers would float up-side down like the dead fishes of Wah Lukha and Ranikor river in Jaintia Hills, the sooner the better.
Talking about coal barons, our own MP Vincent Pala is said to own about 200 trucks to ferry coal and he is believed to be earning 15 lakhs per day from coal business alone. And as long as those in power are minting money, traffic congestions can wait. Endure patiently, dear lesser mortals.
Through this write up, I one behalf of the commuters in Shillong using city bus and magic taxi vans, thank Kong Ampareen for the excellent service rendered to us. You did a much better job than former minister of urban affairs, Paul Lyngdoh, during whose tenure the yellow traffic post were erected merely for decorations and later used those posts only to rub lime.
By the way, where is Bah Malcolm Tariang, my college teacher?
Yours etc,.
Isaiah Sun