Editor,
It’s a matter of shame for the local inhabitants of Shillong to see the once clean and beautiful city becoming an eye sore not only for the local people but especially for Indian and foreign tourists who visit Shillong every year during April/May and Oct-December. I have seen foreigners moving around G.S. Road and Khyndailad covering their mouths and noses with handkerchiefs because of the obnoxious smells emitted by drains in the lane and by-lanes. Nobody cares (including Icare) and everybody throws rubbish (chips packet, bananas peels, egg shells, cigarettes boxes, packets plastic etc) on the road without any qualms. Men urinate on the main road and bye lanes due to absence of public latrines. Right from Iewduh to Khyndailad point there is only one public latrine at MUDA complex. Where has the money amounting to crores of rupees sponsored by the Central Government to build public latrines vanished? I am sure the public wants to know. What is the role of the State Government, Municipality, KHADC, Syiem of Mylliem in keeping Iewduh and Khyndailad clean? Where is the revenue generated from Iewduh which also amount to several lakh rupee per month? The Syiem of Mylliem and KHADC have to enlighten the public on this aspect. Are the accounts of Syiem of Mylliem subject to audit by the Accountant General?
The efforts made by Ardent Basaiawmoit, Ex- CEM KHADC, to clean Iewduh are commendable. I hope the next CEM KHADC will follow in his footsteps. We don’t want the tourist to go back with bad experiences and to tell others not to visit Shillong as it is the Garbage city. The entire Khyndailad (tiled area) and the footpaths adjacent to Civil Hospital etc. are occupied by street vendors who sell unhygienic food items while those in authority (food inspectors etc) walk with their eyes closed. There is hardly any space for people to walk on the footpaths. Is there any authority to enforce discipline? The foot paths too are in a dilapidated condition. If one is not careful one may end up in hospital with a broken leg or ankle.
Then we have the case of taxis parking haphazardly and occupying half of the road in ‘Khyndailad’ and police are mere spectators. The passengers( not to talk of tourists) are in a dilemma to find a taxi which would take them to their destinations. The drivers are waiting to fleece the passengers, especially tourists and this happens under the very eyes of the police. Why can’t the Traffic Police not make taxis stand in a queue according to their destinations (like the Laban-bound taxis which observe some sort of discipline)?
I also fail to understand why the vacant plot near O.B Shopping mall is now used by hawkers selling food stuff. Where have all these hawkers come from? Does anyone know or care? When will that space cease to become an eyesore? As of today Shillong is a lawless city and Khyndailad the worst example with no authority to enforce any discipline. The NGOs who profess to work for the Jaitbynriew should take play a more active role here. The Municipality/Government, authorities should ensure that Khyndailad and Iewduh are kept free of plastic bags. The Government should enforce a rule that every shop in Khyndailad and Iewduh should have dustbins in front of their shops so that public could dispose off food packages etc. Anyone who does not follow this should be caught and fined heavily.
I would like the State Ministers, Government officials and the public at large to visit Gangtok (Sikkim) and see how clean the city is. One cannot see even cigarettes butts, leave aside plastic bags, chips packets etc., on the road. Every shop has a dustbin, over and above the public dustbin. I wish some NGOs take up the challenge to enforce cleanliness in Iewduh, Khyndailad, Polo Bazar Laitumkhrah Bazar etc., and not to go for agitations all the time and confront the State Government, on all fronts. If a small State like Sikkim can do it why not Meghalaya? It will be a shame for the bona-fide inhabitants of the state to get the name tag of Shillong – the Garbage City.
Yours etc.,
W.C Mannar
Shillong -2