By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Shillong Polytechnic has turned out to be a den of anti social elements and the situation now has worsened to a condition that residents are afraid to walk through its premises at Mawlai especially after sunset.
The campus of the institute has become a venue for drinking and other anti social activities, in the absence of any law enforcing agencies nearby.
The misuse of the campus by the anti social elements had earlier prompted the authorities to seek the help of the police.
The problem is for the pedestrians as they have no other option than to go through the PWD road which is passing through the campus to reach two localities Mawlai Mawdatbaki Nongpathaw and Mawlai Kynton Massar.
There also two by-lanes, one reaching out to Dong Umparmaw under Nongpathaw and the other leading to Umsaitsnier.
While miscreants found the campus a hide out for drinking, couples from outside continue to frequent the area. There was a demand from the Dorbar Shnong and the residents staying adjacent to the institute to separate the PWD road which was constructed prior to the setting up of the Polytechnic, but in vain.
The Shillong Polytechnic, Mawlai, set up in 1965 offers diploma courses in engineering for the students from the State.
Besides the people and the students, the staff of OM Roy Higher Secondary School are also using the campus as thoroughfare.
The by-lane leading to the OM Roy School is passing through Girl’s Hostel of the Polytechnic.
The unpleasant incidents at the campus premises are not only a threat to the safety and security of the passers- by and the residents, but also to the students and the hostlers.
The traditional bodies of Mawlai Mawdatbaki together with the Dorbar Dong Nongpathaw and Mawlai Kynton-Massar had expressed the need for an alternate road in view of the menace. According to sources, the traditional institutions and the residents had asked the concerned authorities to construct an alternate route along the boundary of the Institute which will ensure sanctity of the campus and also security to the employees and hostlers, both boys and girls.
There were pro active steps on the part of the Government to the suggestion, causing worry to those who run Shillong Polytechnic
The Shillong Polytechnic had agreed to the idea of the traditional bodies to construct an alternate road from along the rear boundary of the Institute.
They had jointly submitted a representation to the Government highlighting the need to construct the alternate road.
Once a new road comes up, the existing PWD road and by-lanes will be part of the territory of the Institute. The Institute also wanted the Government to fence the area after providing an alternate road.