SHILLONG: The State food scenario, which is grim and the ongoing law and order problem in Jaintia Hills over the NGT ban on coal mining have failed to find a place in the State Government’s priority list compared to the signing of peace pact with ANVC in Delhi.
The flood related incidents have so far claimed as many as 39 lives, which is the worst ever tragedy in the State, but the Government machinery is busy on matters related to signing of peace pact with ANVC.
Moreover, another important issue which was neglected by the Government is the appeal of the coal miners and workers on the matters related to payment of royalty and others following the ban on coal mining by NGT which ultimately resulted in violent incidents including deaths in Jaintia Hills.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who represents the flood-affected Ampati in the State Assembly, instead of remaining in Garo Hills, went back to Delhi on Wednesday. He came from the national capital only on Monday evening.
The Chief Minister undertook an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas on Tuesday only to go back to Delhi the next day.
When the ceasefire was signed in July 23 2004, only two Meghalaya Government officials attended the function, one is the then Meghalaya DGP L Sailo and the then Chief Secretary P J Bazeley.
However, in the case of signing peace pact with ANVC and ANVC-B in Delhi on Wednesday, the Chief Minister, Home Minister Roshan Warjri and a host of Government officials had rushed to Delhi .
In the absence of any senior minister deputed in Secretariat to assess the flood and law and order situation, the matter was entrusted to officials who are not willing to interact with the media.
As far as flood situation is concerned, there is no centralized centre which disseminates information to the media as the DIPR was entrusted to send press notes to the newsmen.