Editor,
B Lalthanpuia’s letter captioned “A suggestion” ST Mar 10, 2014) regarding the beautification of Laitumkhrah offers a valid point indeed. Why build a fountain in the middle of the road costing the people lakhs of rupees? Why not instead plant a Banyan Tree as suggested by B Lalthanpuia? Not only would it be environmentally friendly, but it would offer the much needed greenery for Shillong to stay true to its famous slogan -“Clean Shillong Green Shillong” which in recent years has disappeared. Not to mention cheaper maintenance.
Can we not take such suggestions seriously? And do away with the ridiculous and costlier idea of a fountain? What good has the fountain in Khyndailad done? Imagine if there would have been pine trees growing in that area, it sure would have made a better Christmas sight actually having a Christmas Tree(s) there. Granted the gigantic “Moth Collector” in the middle of the fountain offers the much needed light that people need at night at the heart of the city. But wouldn’t street lights on the surrounding edges of the circle do the same?
The same situation is at Motphran. Now people actually utilize the junction to sell their wares and adding to the congestion. Why can’t the people in charge learn from these previous scenarios? Or do we actually have a Planning Board that comes up with the idea of a “Fountain” every time some free place crops up? Why can’t we follow other states and actually try to plant more trees? Go to any other state apart from Meghalaya you can see roads with tress planted on either side. We on the other hand actually destroy and try to uproot the ones that are already !existing!. If we continue down this road, Shillong in a few years will definitely be a concrete jungle with nothing but buildings and multi-storied houses, housing shops of different sorts and that too in an earthquake prone area.
When I was small I remember Khyndailad with our then Assembly Building looking magnificent with its many pine trees and greenery surrounding it, albeit the space there was small.In the years to come I am sure that I will be looking at a Shillong of advancement no doubt, but a Shillong lacking the natural color of Green, not to forget the fact that the air that we breathe will differ from the fresh air that we so enjoy now. And lots and lots of people are complaining of the change in weather especially last summer. Similar complaints are being heard now about our continuing winter.
Well we are definitely adding to the climate change catastrophe unless we do something now.
Yours etc.,
Joe Lyngdoh,
Shillong-14
Give Peace a Chance!
Editor,
Garo Hills has been under the thick cloud of violence and constant threat for too long. However, the reports in your esteemed paper about the ‘Mass Prayer and Peace Rally’ (ST 10 March 2014) is definitely a silver lining. Hats off to the civil society of Tura! When contractors, businessmen, traders and tourists are in constant fear and threat, the immediate result is that the area remains backward. For such a small geographical area to house so many militant groups is no laughing matter. The cycle of unresolved issues, emergence of militancy, extortions, fear and underdevelopment are all mutual causes and effects leading to the deterioration of the area.
Nevertheless, the optimistic message of Fr. Januarius S. Sangma SDB indicates that all is not gone. The situation is not beyond repair! There is still power left in the hands of the NGOs and all people of good will to come together and redeem the situation. The rally itself indicates that the people of Garo Hills have not given up. At the same time, the appeal of the UPMGH chairperson Miriam D. Shira remains valid. The State Government as well as the militant groups need to work harder in order to bring back ‘the peace’ that the people have been longing for.
Together with the people of Garo Hills we pray that peace may be restored. Let us remember that violence begets violence; and peace begets peace.
Yours etc,
George Shining Lyngkhoi
Shillong – 03