Editor,
Apropos the letter “Strange ways of the SMB” by Ibor Sun (ST Nov 20, 2014), the letter
strangely makes no mention of the elephant in the room, i.e. the biggest building of Shillong, the 10-storeyed money-spinner which has come up in place of the old Municipal Office, breaking all rules laid down in the Meghalaya Building Bye-Laws. It is because of this building’s proposed rear entrance, that the existing fish/vegetable market is to be shifted. Several wooden stalls were, shortsightedly constructed by the side of a narrow two-way road. If the market were to be temporarily shifted there, it would cause great inconvenience and be a safety hazard for the buyers, in addition to being a fire hazard. Sun shows concern about the public exchequer and public interests. While not going into how much he has contributed to the public exchequer, it may be mentioned that by demolishing the temporary stalls, the Municipality has acted in the interests of the public who will use the market for their daily needs. Thus his comment about “safeguarding the interests of a few against the larger public interest” actually means safeguarding the interests of the few who will benefit (or has already benefited) from the above-mentioned 10-storeyed building, as against the larger public interest of the people who use the market. Obviously, Mr.Sun is either ignorant of the ground realities or has chosen to selectively highlight the aspects which he thinks will strike a chord among the people he represents.
Yours etc.,
Damanbha Diengdoh,
Shillong-14
Assembly building not a priority
Editor,
Apropos K.L Tariang’s write up ‘Do we need an edifice for the Assembly’ (ST Nov 24, 2014), I fully endorse his stance. Mr Tariang has asked whether it is justified to spend several hundred crores on a building where most of our representatives will only while away their time for a few weeks in a year? Judging by the quality of the debates or non-debates that take place, a majestic building will be a sheer waste of public money. The auditorium behind Pinewood should be adequate for the purpose and the money saved could be used by those departments which have not paid their workers for the last three or four months. Let us pray that some sanity prevails or it that wishful praying?
Yours etc.,
D.M.Pariat,
Shillong-3
Wanted a tough HM!
Editor,
Roshan Warjri’s resignation may have caught many by surprise but it provides a golden opportunity to this beleaguered government to appoint a tough, capable Home Minister in her place. Ms Warjri is no doubt a fine, capable and sincere woman with decades of political experience behind her. But to put it bluntly, she was never cut out for this role. Whether it is the Garo Hills problem or NGO violence or disgruntled coal miners or police corruption, Roshan Warjri has been seen to be struggling all the way. Till date, the police have not been able to arrest a single person for the brutal killings in Shillong by ILP activists which shocked the nation. They have conveniently shoved these cases under the carpet, soon to be forgotten forever. Lawlessness has spiralled out of control in many pockets of the State. The so-called peace pact with ANVC which was touted as a game-changer proved to be a damp squib. Unabated violence in the weeks following the ANVC pact is an indication that the Garo Hills problem is only getting worse by the day. The need of the hour is a tough, capable Home Minister who can take independent decisions. Violent criminals and murderous gangs must be wiped out instead of being pardoned through ridiculous “peace pacts”. Selling out its own people by cowardice and money – this is what the Meghalaya Govt has really done with these illegal peace pacts, under Roshan Warjri’s watch, unfortunately.
Yours etc.,
Benjamin Marak
Tura