Editor,
The Government has done the right thing by empowering the High Powered Committee (HPC) to make the final site selection for the proposed Assembly Complex. To make things easier for the HPC I would like to suggest the following few points for their consideration:
The proposed Assembly can be built at the same spot where the old Assembly building was gutted in January 2001. A four storied building with a parking lot on the ground floor with provisions to accommodate about 100 vehicles would be ideal. The area is quite big, about 2 acres and with state of the art architecture this can be accomplished. The MLA’s hostel where most of the MLA’s have their own accommodation is walking distance from the proposed Assembly. This will save time, fuel, etc., for the MLA’s to attend the sessions and will also lessen the traffic jams in Shillong City to a great extent. This will also save the time of Government officials who have to attend the Assembly session. A budget of Rs 70 to 80 crore is more than sufficient for the Assembly Complex. It is reliably learnt that some vested interests want to convert the old Assembly premises into a shopping complex, hotel and parking lot where most of the shops will be grabbed by non-tribal traders. We should not and cannot afford this as Khyndailad is already over-crowded and can no longer accommodate unplanned expansions. I request the HPC members not to succumb to greed and not to mix politics with business.
The second suggestion is the old Earle Sanatorium just behind the MLA’s Hostel where the City Dhaba and hotels have sprung up. This land is about 5 acres and it is understood that it belongs to a so called `Trust’ being run by few business persons (non locals). This land can be easily acquired by the State Government provided they have the political will.
I hope that my humble suggestions will be taken cognizance of by the HPC members before selecting the final site for the proposed Assembly Complex.
Yours etc.,
W C Manners,
Shillong
Redeeming time
Editor,
‘Walk as the wise and not as the unwise thereby redeeming the time’ is a well known Biblical exhortation. In this connection, I request the authorities of the Meghalaya Government Polytechnics to release the admission results (2013) of all departments and start the classes as early as possible. All the Higher Secondary Schools and even first year degree of all colleges in Meghalaya have already started their classes. Their admissions commenced more or less at the same time with the Polytechnics. I have heard that the number of enrolments and even the number of applicants in these Polytechnics is not that big when compared to colleges, but why is their admission take such a long time. After all, admission into the Polytechnics is also based on merit of the SSLC results. If the classes start late as usual, then we are sacrificing the precious time of the students at least by one semester. If I am wrong, kindly explain why this time consuming process?
Yours etc.,
Airpeace Rani
Shillong-4
Deplorable Tura roads
Editor,
On behalf of the Garo Hills Development Federation I want to draw th attention of the Government to the deplorable road conditions in the district headquarters of West Garo Hills district, Tura. All the connecting roads from Tura Bazar to Araimile Bazar to Chitoktak Bazar to Darenggre are badly damaged but the PWD authorities don’t seem to care. On the contrary, in Shillong the roads in almost every nook and corner of the city like the road to Mawdiangdiang, Smit, Jaiaw, Kenches Trace etc have all been repaired and black topped. Tura town has been abandoned from long ago. On behalf of the citizens of Garo Hills I urge the Government to urgently take up the matt er of improving and immediate repairing all the roads of our capital town Tura or else we will be forced to agitate.
Yours etc,.
Raknang Sangma,
General Secy, Garo Hills Development Federation
Tura