Editor,
Today’s paper carried the news that the Government is contemplating constituting a group to formulate laws concerning the Rangbah-Shnong. This is a dangerous development in the offing. The institution of Dorbar Shnong is directly under the purview of the District Council. Therefore it is the District Council that should formulate laws and regulations regarding the working of the Dorbar Shnong. It is true that the State Government has authority to do that but it would be a case of double-crossing the traditional authority. It would be a dangerous precedent which would encourage further encroachment into traditional institutions and finally turning the District Council into a paper tiger. In my opinion, the District Council should take up this issue with the Government on an urgent basis. They should be the ones to draw up rules and regulations keeping in mind the balance between tradition and modernity. This should be done at the earliest since this is a very hot issue today. It is the District Council that should offer the Government such working documents. The Government on the other hand should not be hasty with formulating its own rules and laws because that may have negative repercussions on Khasi society at large. Our State is of the tribal people and our Government is of the ST and not of the SC. Therefore the interest of the tribal people should be taken care of first. This implies that the District Council has to be respected in its competence and authority. The Government should never underestimate or over-rule the role of the District Council in matters related to customs and tradition. I hope good sense prevails over our Government and a sense of duty over our MDCs.
Yours etc.,
Barnes Mawrie,
Via email
Lukha river turns blue again
Editor,
The Lukha river located in Sonapur, East Jaintia Hills has once again turned blue, which is obviously not natural. The river was once known for its abundant aquatic life but today not even a frog can survive in it. It is noteworthy that during the spring and rainy season when the water is abundant the blue coour of the river goes unnoticed. But during the winter months the entire stretch of the river is blue and it looks more like a swimming pool. This problem has been reported many times by the media but to no avail. The Department concerned is still to arrest the problem. As reported earlier, now too fishes are dying and there is no spot of any aquatic life. The river is acidic in nature, so acidic in fact that even the colour of the stones has become greyish. It is noteworthy that some years ago the water of this river was potable. Today its waters are not suitable even to wash utensils.
Now the important question is, “What has made this water acidic?” Nature cannot possibly turn the river acidic. There are two major activities that could probably be the cause for this phenomena. The cement factories and coal mining activities around the Narpuh Elaka of East Jaintia Hill. My personal opinion is that since coal mining has happened decades before any cement factory took birth in the area and prior to that the river was in its natural state, clean and potable so the problem must be with the cement companies. Prior to the NGT ban on coal mining, I received a RTI reply from the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board which said that coal mining might be the cause of the stated problem but then coal mining has been banned by the NGT for about a year now so how is it that the Lukha river turns blue yet again. This only indicates that the Lukha river is not made acidic by coal mining but by some other factor.
This needs to be thoroughly investigated to arrive at a correct conclusion and action should be taken against those responsible for killing the river. Cement factories too cannot be accused without proof and proper investigation. While pollution of the river has killed the aquatic life, it has also angered the local fishermen. Causing water pollution is a serious offence and punishable by law. But the MSPCB and the Govt. of Meghalaya has failed to check this menace. It is high time that MSPCB, the Ministry of Forest and Environment, Ministry of Water Resources and the State Govt. of Meghalaya wake up and revive the river to its natural state which is in the best interest of the state. Delay in solving this problem will prompt someone to approach the NGT for an independent probe on this matter….and the judiciary will deliver.
Yours etc.,
Kynjaimon Amse
Dept. of Law, NEHU
Shillong-22