Editor
Deborah Marak praises Modi and says that Gujarat has developed significantly with good road connectivity which is the best example of development. But in the case of Meghalaya, allegations of corruption in the PWD is unfortunate since this is a sector which needs urgent improvement to sustain economic growth. The state roads are in shambles – often narrow and full of potholes. This delays the transportation of goods from ports and the hinterland to consuming centers. According to estimates shared by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India last October, the country lost over $5 billion a year due to poor roads. And in Meghalaya its believed that up to 65 percent of the sanctioned amount is siphoned off by the Politician-Contractor – Engineers nexus. The quality of roads built with the remaining amount does not last even one season.
It is believed that the main cause of corruption here in Meghalaya is through the transfer and posting of engineers. An engineer wanting to be posted as the ‘site engineer’ has to pay lakhs of rupees to the minister in charge and has to go through a long and shady process. The Secretary, the Chief Engineers or the Head of Department have no authority over their subordinates. Even a Junior Engineer pays no heed to them. If one asks for transfer from the Government the Secretary asks them to go to the Minister in-charge. The minister asks them to meet the Local MLA and the Local MLA asks them to meet his local leaders. The leaders then ask them how much money they can siphon off from the schemes for them. Only after they are satisfied the engineer be appointed to a particular post. This shameless process is considered normal in this industry.
Recently the Government created the post of Assistant Executive Engineer in PWD and 120 Assistant Engineers were promoted to the post. It was a welcome move by all who thought that corruption would reduce and the State would have a better roads, Alas! The Government also created 40 posts of AEE Technical (TC) which is a technical post and these 40 odd Engineers have no work to perform so they hardly go to office. Some of them attend office only once a month but collect a huge salary of Rs 60 thousands plus with no complaints. Hence the Government is wasting around Rs 24 lakhs a month only for their salaries. In 10 years the Government will be wasting almost 30 crores and this will only add to the burden of the state exchequer. The Engineers are either part of the corrupts mechanism or do not go to work at all. It’s high time the state PWD be headed by the Governor himself and not by the politicians. As of now the PWD Engineers are just like the personal staff of the Minister cum contractor. Meghalaya can forget about seeing better roads as are seen in the developed state of Gujarat.
Why is the Chief Minister keeping his eyes and ears closed to this blatant corruption in his Government?
Yours etc.,
S.Lyngdoh
Shillong -3
Garo Hills -a saga of deaths and kidnappings
Editor,
Why is Garo Hills what it is today? Who is responsible for the inhuman acts such as killing, kidnapping, and extortion? Well these questions are left unanswered? Where is our Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, when people are being killed, kidnapped, and Garo Hills is turning into a land where blood flows and dead bodies are counted every day. Stop announcing ex-gratia to bereaved families; can the compensation made by the government bring back the dead or the happiness into the lives of those who had lost their loved ones in the hands of the militants who are on a killing and kidnapping spree in Garo Hills?
For how long will the people of Garo Hills endure this inhuman, barbarian act of the militants? For how long will they continue to live in fear in their own land and at the mercy of the terror groups? It’s time to act Mr CM! The state government has failed to tackle the menace in Garo Hills. Garo Hills will perish if nothing is done to stop the nuisance. How can these handfuls of killers create such fear and commit horrific crimes every day? What makes them feel so powerful suddenly? Aren’t they aware that there is something called the ‘law?’ But where is the ‘rule of law’ in our state?
After seeing the CCTV footage of the shooting incident in Garo Hills, one can imagine how the militants are boldly boasting of their presence and spreading fear among the masses. This is deplorable. Steps should be taken to tackle these killers soon before Garo Hills reaches the pits. There are too many criminal cases in Garo Hills. Will they ever be solved? The gruesome killing of Josbina Sangma who was shot dead in front of her kids this year is slowly forgotten. What has happened to that case? Where are the murderers? Why has the Government not taken any stringent action against militancy in Garo Hills even today?
The irony is that the CM made a trip to Brazil when the state needed his presence the most. What can the poor people of Garo Hills expect from him?
Yours etc.,
Olivia L Mawlong,
Via email