Editor,
Apropos the news item “SPTS in shambles; buses remain unutilised” (ST Feb 11th 2013), it was a shock for many Nongshillong to be greeted with such depressing news early on a Monday morning. The shock was made worse by the fact that the SPTS buses were proving to be of such comfort and relief to the harassed and careworn commuters of this city. For once people had actually started to believe that the Government of Meghalaya can actually deliver. For once the common man had started to believe that someone up there really cared for this wellbeing. To be now told that this was just a flash in the pan is something hard to digest. To be told that we have once again been made fools of is too much to swallow. We need to find out who has befooled us. We need to know who has once again robbed us of our rights. We need to know who has once again made money out of the misery of the poor.
The report speaks of a tie-up between the Urban Affairs Deptt, MTC and NGOs that went wrong. It spoke of initial dubious Urban Affairs attempts to deprive the MTC of a share in the tie up and also of irresponsible NGO behaviour in the running and management of the SPTS buses. That is one side of the story. There is another side that speaks of total mismanagement of the 50 buses taken over by the MTC. This version speaks of endemic MTC corruption; of cannibalism as an accepted way of managing a transport system: of unexplainable loss of spare parts; of total unprofessional and unprofitable running of the buses under MTC management. It’s a story with credible history behind it.
Whatever the causes, the fact remains that 50 public transport buses meant for the use and comfort of the people of Shillong have been thoroughly abused and destroyed, within an unbelievable period of one year. Crores of public money has gone down the drain. Who is responsible? That a scam has taken place cannot be denied. Now action needs to be taken; there has to be accountability; heads have to roll. Mere suspension of the guilty will not suffice nor is action to be confined to a mechanic, a driver or a conductor. The big fishes have to be caught. There has to be public accountability into this whole mess. A strong signal must be sent out that enough is enough- no more corruption! The Government has to lodge an FIR into this scam. If a CBI enquiry is called for so be it. The very credibility of the Govt is at stake. The people of Meghalaya what to know if there is a law against thieves and if the Government is ready to send such thieves to jail.
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah
Shillong-8
Elections and the coal mafia
Editor,
The article “Black Diamond could play spoilsport in the 2013 election” by HH Mohrmen (ST 11.2.13) comes as welcome news for our coal-ravaged state. Mr. Mohrmen writes that local coal traders are facing a serious fund crunch due to competition from low-cost coal imports. As a result, it is alleged that money is not flowing as freely and loosely as it did during past elections. This in turn implies that the mining lobby will have a significantly diminished impact on the 2013 elections. If true, this is the best possible news for Meghalaya. If coal money has really dried up at this critical juncture, and it’s a big IF, most voters will be faced with the strange idea of having to exercise their franchise without being paid for it. This would lead to a free and fair election in the real sense of the term, where the voters judgment is not clouded by free liquor, cash disbursements and petty artefacts.
But all this is pure conjecture, based on one individual’s observations rather than hard facts. We can’t really say for sure that coal imports have gone down and the mining industry is going through a downturn without looking at the books. We can only attest to the fact that there are less trucks visible on the highways which could be an indicator to the fact. My personal opinion is however to the contrary. Even if all mines were to shut down instantly, the coal cartel still has enough assets stashed away to fund the next couple of elections without feeling the pinch. Judging by the number of new entrants from the mining cartel (including the wife of the present Chief Minister and quite a few dummy candidates propped up by coal money), there are more than enough ‘black diamonds’ floating around to seal the fate of the 2013 elections. And if one were to read the various reports coming in of violations of the model code of conduct, one would easily see that the game of hide and seek with poll officials is in full flow. And so far only one gentleman by the name of Sanbor Shullai has been booked. The rest have stayed ahead of the game and continue with their generous disbursements of bribes to mercenary voters without being caught. The 2013 elections promises to go the way of past elections. The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel is visible only from a rat-hole. The rest of us will continue to live in the dark.
Yours etc.,
Daisy Kharkongor,
Shillong
Tourist routing
Editor,
Search the web and you will see the name “Cherrapunji” now termed “Sohra” reflecting the many moods of the popular tourist destination “the world’s heaviest rainfall place” aka “world’s second wettest place”…. How do you reach there, where do you stay, and so on and so forth. Then comes the real journey by road to this famous destination. And then you swing your steering left and wonder where you’re headed. Well you are on your way to another part of Meghalaya is the complaint of many tourists. Oh so you ask me why you swung left. Well, simply because you found a wonderful u-turn bridge and it looked all so welcoming and with improper placement of signboards on the roads…you were deemed to have gone 2-3 kms ahead and then realised that you are yet to reach Sohra. Well go ahead take a drive up to Sohra and when you reach the big broad bridge you may well crave to simply go ahead driving the left way up than to the right side (which is the right way up to Sohra), because the right way up looked un-welcoming. You ask me why ? Simply because the beautification stopped at the bridge I must say. Why is the road to the right side left ill-managed for years altogether, is a question that would arise. Isn’t that a part of the same district? Isn’t it a road leading to most of the wonderful tourist spots in the State? A million dollar question while much is being done to drive tourists to our beautiful and scenic State and with the Tourism Department doing much to bring a boom to this Industry that would benefit the locals and the State as a whole. Someone take a stand please!
Yours etc.,
Kenyir Olga,
Shillong
Let our votes speak!
Editor,
With the Assembly Polls coming closer the candidates are leaving no stone unturned and sweating it out in their election campaigns along with their workers. Very soon are going to see the formation of a new Government along with some new faces as well. The need of the hour for us is to vote for the right person. We need leaders capable of leading us towards better and greener pastures. These days luring the people to vote through cash and kind has become a common scene even in our State. We are not fools to sell our votes for just a penny or two. Our votes have the power to bring change. So, we don’t want a single paisa and we don’t want to be obliged to any candidate. All we want is a leader, who can be a people’s voice. There are some honest candidates who refrain from such shameful activities. We can judge their character out of these activities. So once again the time has come. Let’s speak through our VOTES.
Yours etc.,
Firstborn C Marak
Nokil-Awe, Williamnagar