Editor,
We are at a loss for words, confused, perplexed, anxious and at the end of it angry and frustrated. It’s all about the power scenario and water scarcity in the State. The honchos of various Corporations and Departments have literally washed their hands off the matter and bluffed us with stupid explanations and we are to take their words as those spoken by Moses. The ministers in charge of the concerned departments are at sea and I don’t think have a clue about the problems. On top of it they are busy giving irrelevant statements. So that leaves the head of the State to convince us. It seems he too is not sure. The blame game; not knowing facts; assuming the impossible and on top of it officials in various departments talking loose have added to the chief minister’s woes. People have had a lot of faith and were convinced that Mukul Sangma would do something when they elected him and his government. It seems now that there is total confusion all around for which the whole state has to suffer. We are not asking for the moon but just pleading for the basics which the whole of the country has in abundance-Power and Water. The solution is very simple. Make people accountable. The CM cannot be at all the places all the time. That’s why people are hired to run various departments. When they do not perform their allotted tasks they have to be asked why and action must follow. When one non performing individual is questioned others will be aware and cautious. Get them to work and that is the only solution. For now, Mr CM please don’t pretend that you can order NEEPCo and other power generating companies. Plead with them instead, so that we tide over this situation and then go for all your planning. All of us are suffering and we hope the CM will do something and shut up all those who think he is incompetent to do so.
Yours etc.,
Dr RS Bawa,
Via email
No civic sense
Editor,
On Sunday Morning (May 4, 2014) at 11 am, while we were having the worship service in our Church at Keating Road , we suddenly had to stop singing the praise and worship songs. Our song leader had to ask the congregation to sit down because there was bad smell coming from the drain nearby. We closed the church door hoping to shut out the stink but even that was futile as the church is very close to the drain. That very morning somebody let out their septic tank directly into the public drains and all of us could not breathe properly. I would like to ask the authorities of the Keating Road to look in to this matter and stop this unhygienic practice and improper behaviour in the near future.
Yours etc.,
Rev. G. G. Momin
1st Assembly of God Church
Shillong-1
Ban on mining, not the solution
Editor,
There is a solution for mining if the Government agrees to have a deal with the miners. There are many ways to solve this problem scientifically. The Government t should have a Mining Engineering Wing to implement the Mining Policy. Then the mine owners cannot just go and start digging and indulge in rat hole mining. They should obtain the clearance or NOC after a survey has been conducted by the mining engineers and/or the Pollution Control Board. Mining should go hand in hand with the engineers’ plan. The mine owners should first get clearance from the Engineering Wing after a deep survey and research of the particular spot by the engineers before they start mining. Yes, mining should not be in the same old way. The latest technology and machinery should be used so that rat hole mining can be eradicated. After that mining will no longer be a deep scary hole; it will be a place where everyone can go in and out. If we can form this Mining Engineering Wing/Company many unemployed youth will be benefitted especially the civil engineers, mining engineers and architects who don’t have a job. Many graduates and under-graduates will also have the opportunity to work. To put a ban on mining is no solution. It leaves the state under- developed and fuels unemployment among the youth. Good mining practices will also add to the state’s development.
Yours etc.,
Rio Dame Sungoh,
Via email