Editor,
As a citizen of Meghalaya and as a Khasi, I am ashamed to read the news about how people of our State and “Jaidbynriew” are constantly harassed by Assam Police. It seems that Meghalaya has no voice or that whatever voice it had is scuttled by a few vested interests. When politicians can camp for days on end at New Delhi to get schemes worth hundreds of crore of rupees , then why can they not camp in their constituencies , which are always in danger? Why can’t the Home Minister/Chief Minister camp at New Delhi to seek more funds for raising more police battalions to guard our inter-state borders? I do not think that our police personnel are weak, unless they are hamstrung by equivocal messages from their political masters. This humiliation will stop only when the political class inculcate a sense of “belonging” to this State which our founding fathers had so courageously fought for to gain statehood. One wonders what would have happened if our founding fathers had not had this sense of “belonging”! But this would be too a vague a term for the present lot of political leaders.
Yours etc.,
R.Syiem.
Via email.
Urban Affairs take charge please!
Editor
Watching the news item on July 22 over the loss of lives due to deep potholes on roads in Mumbai due to the onset of monsoons, reminds me once again of the pathetic condition of the stretch of road that leads to Khlieh Iewduh Parking Lot. This road has been orphaned for a very long time with none of the previous governments paying heed to its decrepit state. As a respite the only time that the road was repaired was during President’s Rule in 2009. The then Governor of Meghalaya, Ranjit Shekhar Mooshaharay heard the miseries and plight of the common man and repaired the pathetic approach road. Since the road was made motorable to facilitate the Khlieh Iewduh Parking Lot almost a decade ago, this particular road was left unattended year after year which has brought it to its present condition. At present the road is in very bad shape and is in urgent need of repair. The road is full of pot holes the size of a small pond. But this road is important as it is only through this road that essential food items are brought to Iewduh. If the road is not repaired soon we may just have a similar mishap as the one in Mumbai. Precious lives may be lost as any day a truck laden with goods may turn turtle in one of the potholes and collapse on pedestrians or smaller vehicles plying through the road. This writer had time and again raised this matter before the authorities concerned but it had always fallen on deaf ears. If there are problems of jurisdiction between the MES, the Cantonment and Urban Affairs the matter should be resolved between the three bodies. The general public should not be put to discomfiture ad they are today. A lot of revenue is collected by the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) from the Khlieh Iewduh Parking lot. Where is that money and why can’t it be used to repair the road? I request the print and electronic media to focus on this road even though it is not frequented by the elite of the society and is being used by the common people.
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email
Jingoism personified!
Editor,
Apropos the article, ” A case of cultural thrombosis,” by Mr Paul Lyngdoh (ST July 23, 2013), it is very disappointing to learn that a person like Morning Star Sumer holds such an outdated opinion. Persons like him are responsible for ghettoisation of the society and they act as a roadblock to the progress of mankind. Paul Lyngdoh has given a befitting reply to his letter. Now it is indeed clear that that Mr Sumer suffers from jingoistic prejudices and a mental condition characterised by unwarranted jealousy. And may I ask how indigenous sounding is the name Morning Star ?
Yours etc.,
Rajesh
Shillong-1
Khyndailad a big mess !
Editor,
A walk along Khyndailad will reveal the lack of public space to walk down comfortably due to the overwhelming presence of hawkers on the entire stretch of road. This poses a security risk in the event of any unfortunate mishap. In case of a fire, the police would find it extremely difficult to clear through the maze of rubbish, garbage and hawkers. Going further towards the MTC building one sees a small vacant land that was once said to be a park but is now strewn with garbage. This place poses a health hazard and an epidemic could break out due to the rotten garbage. Urban cleanliness and management needs to be upscaled and followed by the respective departments instead of passing the buck. All the rosy picture of promoting Shillong as a tourist destination seems to be totally out of sync with the ground realities. Perhaps the Urban Affairs Minister needs to do a reality check.
Yours etc,
Dominic S.Wankhar
Shillong-3