Deputy CM Laloo’s initiative turns into reality
SHILLONG: The long-awaited dream of Shillong Polytechnic and the residents staying near the Institute to see construction of an alternate public road and erection of fencing wall along the boundary of the institute has now materialized, thanks to the initiative of Deputy Chief Minister R.C. Laloo.
The State Government has sanctioned Rs.3.6 crore for undertaking the construction works.
The State Government had, in May this year, floated a tender inviting Class-I contractors to participate in the bidding process.
The Deputy Chief Minister had last year assured representatives of Dorbar Shnong Mawlai Mawdatbaki, Mawlai Kynton Massar and officials of Shillong Polytechnic to find out ways and means to solve the problem when they aired before him a number of grievances and problems being faced by the institute and the nearby residents in view of the absence of an alternate public road as a replacement of the existing road and by-lanes which are passing through the campus of the institute till date.
A petition was also submitted to the Deputy Chief Minister.
People residing at Umparmaw in Nongpathaw locality under Mawdatbaki have been demanding an alternate approach road which should bypass the campus of Shillong Polytechnic since the existing road linking Umsohkrot with Kynton Massar is passing through the Polytechnic.
By-lanes leading to Umparmaw and O.M. Roy Memorial School, Kynton Massar, are also passing through the Shillong Polytechnic campus.
In the absence of an alternate road, the campus has become a thorough fare. Incidents like drinking inside the campus and breaking of glasses of the buildings by miscreants have been reported from time to time in the media.
Constant follow up by the media especially by highlighting the problems faced by Shillong Polytechnic has also made the State Government to take steps to find ways and means to end the problem.
Misuse of the campus by anti-social elements has been a regular affair and the situation at times has gone out of control forcing authorities of Shillong Polytechnic and the Dorbar Shnong to seek help from police.
In the night hours, miscreants often enter the campus and consume alcohol at the playground gallery. After dinking, they break liquor or beer bottles. Besides drinking, the campus is also misused by couples.
Member of the Seng Samla from Mawlai Mawdatbaki especially from Dong Nngpathaw along with Seng Samla Kynton Massar used to patrol the area at night to prevent miscreants from misusing the campus.
Shillong Polytechnic, Mawlai, is one of the oldest engineering institutes established in the State in 1965 prior to statehood.
Various diploma courses in engineering are being offered with students from various parts of the state pursuing their studies at the Institute.