By A H Scott Lyngdoh
Minister Urban Affairs, Ampareen Lyngdoh presented the Meghalaya Heritage Bill 2012 during the last budget session of the Meghalaya Assembly and it became law the same day. In supporting the bill, a law was necessary, it was stated, to preserve heritage buildings, precincts, natural heritage sites and environmentally sensitive areas in the State with all their ramifications- that deterrent punishment was called for, to ward off would-be offenders. Initially, INTACH Meghalaya Chapter could only watch with dismay as its proposal got lost, reappeared, then landed in the wrong place. The light shone, hope turned to reality, soon after Dr. Mukul Sangma took over as Chief Minister. It did not take long for Ampareen to get the file moving, with the support from the Chief Secretary, and notably the expertise and zeal shown by P. Naik, Principal Secretary Urban Affairs whose efficiency is well known.
INTACH which has chapters in every State, is the brain child of Indira Gandhi, the mantle falling on the broad shoulders of Rajiv Gandhi, the first chairman of the Apex body. The leaders shared the common vision to spearhead heritage awareness and conservation which is the constitutional duty of every Indian citizen. In this connection, it is necessary to recall the following words of the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi: “One cannot be truly human and civilised unless one looks upon not only all fellow men, but all creation with the eyes of a friend. Modern man must re-establish an unbroken link with Nature and with life. He must again learn to invoke the energy of growing things and to recognise, as did the ancients in India centuries ago, that one can take from the earth and the atmosphere only so much as one puts back into them.”
The North-East beset with many other problems has had little inclination nor commitment on environmental issues but sooner rather than later the States must come to terms with the serious threats to the environment. The Supreme Court, it may be recalled, took cognizance of the threat in 1996, decreeing that the plunder of the forests must cease forthwith citing the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act 1980 that felling of trees and sale of timber is permissible only through approved working plans. Whether the Supreme Court’s verdict to preserve the forests is being observed in letter and spirit calls for independent investigation. Meghalaya’s one saving grace is the wisdom and farsightedness of its forefathers who created the Sacred Groves( Law Kyntang).
For exercising powers and performing functions as laid down in the Act, the Meghalaya Authority is to be set up with the Chief Secretary as Chairman, and a large membership, which includes Heads of Finance, Urban Affairs, Arts and Culture, Tourism, Forests, Public Works, the Deputy Commissioners, the District Council CEMs, Municipal Boards, MUDA, INTACH, besides an architect, a structural engineer, a historian and three NGO representatives. In this connection draft Rules have been framed to carry out the provisions of the Act and are awaiting Cabinet approval. Based on listing heritage sites, the Authority is empowered to make regulations for the conservation, protection and administration of such sites, which include rivers, streams, cave systems, water bodies, hillocks, etc. It is further empowered to grant or refuse permission for development, which may effect heritage sites or their surroundings.
It will thus be observed, that implementation of the Act taken in all seriousness will have far reaching consequences to stem the rot, to obviate the stink, squalor and destruction pervading the Meghalaya landscape. For the law to be effective, penalties have been included in the Act which includes imprisonment and fine.
INTACH member, Prabhat Sawian, submitted a thesis, related to the natural heritage of Cherrapunji (Sohra) during the 12th International Conference of Trusts. He explained in vivid detail that this area where the rains come is a mere thirty to thirty-five kms in length and five kms in width. Hence this area must be seen and unraveled in its totality instead of only viewing Cherrapunji and the rains per se and explain its journey so that travelers of the world can come and share this unique gift of mother nature. He urged as a matter of utmost importance, that a macro-zoning plan be put in place so as to freeze this huge heritage legacy and asset, before insensitive modernization and industrialization seep in and the hands of man demolish the creation of God.
The new law is not to be taken as the panacea for all human misdeeds, as there are existing laws that can be used wherever necessary. For example, this writer had addressed the authorities concerned to save the Mawplang dam by putting a stop to sand quarrying and to compensate the owners for loss of livelihood. The Chief Engineer PHE is aware of this serious problem due to the constant drainage of silt into the dam from the quarrying sites. Not only is the silting becoming a big problem, so is the damage to the pumping machinery constantly getting battered by the fast flowing impurities of sand and pebbles. It was suggested that the department move an application u/s 133 CrPc before the District Magistrate who is empowered to stop such quarrying in the public interest, which cannot be allowed to suffer on account of personal business of any individual. The moot question is, “Where will the citizens of Shillong get their water in the not too distant future, if the dam becomes non-functional?”
Towering Terror- Newsletter from INTACH, New Delhi
Mobile towers on top of apartment buildings rented out to cellular operators now dot many housing skylines. Beware! They are dangerous. They are in fact a serious health hazard for residents living within 300 meter range of their beams. After giving them one time permission to erect them, no agency takes any further responsibility for the after-effects inflicted on unknowing people. Nor can contracts once signed with the operator be terminated before the stipulated period without going to court. Meanwhile those living within the dangerous perimeter can suffer headaches, anxiety syndrome, dizziness, insomnia if you are lucky and cancer if you are not! Whatever the cost of belated realisation of radiation that kills slowly, residents must join hands and effort to get them removed. Minimum distance to escape the radiation effects is a must.
Shillong, the biggest hill station in the country does not have an elected civic body, since the last one of 1966 which sowed the seeds of mismanagement and ruin. There have been umpteen debates and discussions on evolving a new system of management involving the citizens, without success. Clearly, the existing arrangements cannot cope with the piled up garbage, stinking drains, and an errant water supply system. No use blaming any particular individual, or group for the sorry state of affairs. A viable new system is required. Perhaps INTACH could take up the challenge, in association with responsible leaders getting together for a solution.
The ecological wisdom as contained in the words of Indira Gandhi arises from the intuitive feeling of the oneness of all life, which is expressed in the Atharva Veda, compiled about four thousand years ago, as follows: We are birds of the same nest/ We may wear different skins/ We may speak different languages/, We may believe in different religions/ We may belong to different cultures/ Yet we share the same home- Our Earth.
For man can live individually/ But can survive only collectively/ Born on the same planet/ Covered by the same skies/ Gazing at the same stars/ Breathing the same air/ We must learn to happily progress together/ Or miserably perish together.
(The writer is former Finance Minister, Govt of Meghalaya and currently Convenor Meghalaya Chapter Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, INTACH)