It is sad to see that the road leading to the Shillong Golf Course is being denied of any street or mercury light even after so many years.
The Shillong Golf Course which is also popularly known as ‘Golflink’ among the locals here is one of the major tourist destinations in the State but ironically, it remains completely dark during the night hours.
The Government has been talking about improving the infrastructures of the tourism destinations which is located in the remote corners of the State but surprisingly it tends to neglect places like the Shillong Golf Course which perhaps is the only place which is left in Shillong where people can still have a breath of fresh air.
Taking this fact into consideration, the State Government’s claims of promoting the State as a major tourist destination does hold any water.
Many of the prominent politicians and senior government officials come to this golf course every morning to play golf. But even these policy makers have overlooked that there is darkness in the whole stretch of the road which leads to Golflink during the night hours.
Perhaps the politicians and senior bureaucrats are not aware about this darkness since they themselves do not ply through this road during the night hours.
If there are lights along the road which leads the Golflink, the tourist can even think of visiting the Shillong Golf Course during night hour to feel the beauty of the place. The installation of these lights along the road leading to the Shillong Golf Course would not only add to the beauty of the place but it would help to build a sense of security among the people who walk along this road during the night.
It has been observed that for the past many years, people especially women who are staying along the localities like Golflink, Pynthorumkhrah, Mawlai Mawroh, Lumshyiap and Langkyrding including Mawpat have shown reluctance to walk on foot to go to their home since the road near the golf course is no longer safe.
It has been observed that during the night hours, there would be vehicles with dark tinted glasses parked on the road side. There are also cases of people being robbed by some unidentified miscreants along this road.
The fact is that darkness throughout the whole stretch of the road has allowed the anti-elements to take advantage of the situation.
Strangely, even the various Dorbar Shnongs of the various localities near the golfcourse has turned a blind eye on the need of having a streetlight on this road.
It is learnt that during the early 90’s former Urban Affairs Minister and legislator James Marvin Pariat had installed the streetlights through the stretch of the road near the golf course.
But these street lights functioned for few months. It has been informed that few anti-elements pelted stones which destroyed these streetlights. After which there has been no initiative to repair these street lights since the authorities was not really bothered.
The authorities might try to justify that street lights cannot be installed along this road due to the fear that the anti-elements might again try to destroy it. This surely has no justification since such points affect the fate of a majority of people.
The authorities should otherwise think of the possibilities of finding and means to ensure these streetlights are being protected.
It is high time for the Government to see that the darkness along the stretch of the road leading does not remain dark for the overall interest of the people.
This write up should be a wake-up call for the various Dorbar Shnongs including the local MLA AL Hek to pursue the Government to see that the darkness in this very important road is permanently removed.