Editor,
I am glad that H.H Mohrmen came up with the article “Community Led Eco Conservation ” (ST 28th March 2016) which speaks of community efforts to protect the aquatic life in rivers in West Jaintia Hills District . The article specifically highlighted the activities of the Jaintia Fishing Association(JFA) which plays a dominant role in maintaining a healthy habitat for fishes in the river Myntdu surrounding Jowai. Indeed it is because of the efforts of the JFA that angling which is the favourite pastime of many in Jowai continues to be a pursuit and that too within easy reach .The other positive results that emerged out of the effort of the JFA is that the source of drinking water for Jowai from the river Myntdu is still preserved and sustained and the river also continues to be a source of other recreations. It is also good to learn that the JFA has extensive plans for the protection of the environment by renaming the Association as the Jaintia Fishing and Environment Society(JFES) and by spreading its wings to other parts of Jaintia Hills. It is hoped that likeminded people in the other districts would form such associations or societies and that the government give its firm support and assistance to them because, after all, protection of our water resources and the environment as a whole depends a lot on the active involvement of the people.
While such organizations can create awareness and concerns, persuade and even enforce at times, their success would depend on people’s cooperation and that would be up to the point that their basic needs are not affected. Therefore when Mohrmen says that if the JFES has singlehandedly been able to stop mining and coal depots from coming up in certain villages on the catchment of the Myntdu river and that he sees no reason why it cannot stop building constructions on its banks, I am not confident as he is on the latter. People construct buildings mainly for their shelter which is their basic need and that too mostly on private land either inherited or acquired by them. Hence, if they are stopped, they need to be provided with alternative sites or compensated for, for which the organization may not have the means. Moreover if land close to this river banks have not been declared as “no man’s land” by any authority or and they are neither Government nor District Council land then such land must be in private possession by now. Therefore the fear of Mohrmen that the river Myntdu will go the Wah Umkhrah way because of building constructions coming up on its banks is not unfounded. Like the latter , the former may also suffer because of our shortsightedness or procrastination. Mohrmen also mentioned about rivers falling under the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council’s jurisdiction.
This means that the Council should also protect these rivers . Since crores of rupees may have been spent by the Government for construction of various projects on some of these rivers in public interest it is hoped that the Council has the manpower and financial resources to protect these rivers for the sake of these projects. If not then the sustainability of these projects is jeopardized. Ultimately, public interest may suffer on account of jurisdiction. Coming to the JFES one hopes that its present endeavour will also prominently bring environmental issues to the centre of attention in democratic politics, enough to give people’s verdict that favours the environment. It is a challenging task for them to create such an upheaval but commitment, hard work and endurance will bring success. Here’s wishing the members of the JFES all the best..
Yours etc.,
K.L.Tariang,
Via email
Dereliction of duty
Editor,
I want to bring to the notice of all concerned that in the Class XII (Science) syllabus of MBOSE, no examination was held for Environmental Science (Env Sc) by the Board but the final mark-sheet has grades given for the subject like A, B, C etc. I found out from colleagues in my office that in most schools, classes for Env Sc are held regularly and students perform projects/classwork/homework. Grades are given on the basis of projects submitted by students. But in Jail Road Boys Hr See School, no classes are held in class XI or XII on Env Sc, though period is allotted for it. My question is how will the school give grades? Since no classwork/ homework/project has been done by students how can the teachers mark them? I found out that the Principal is supposed to take Env Sc class but did not take a single class nor did he depute someone else in his place. The entire class has lost out. Now if a student wants to take Env Sc honours in BSc, his/her performance will not be good because the student does not have previous knowledge. I request MBOSE authorities to take action against the Principal of Jail Road Boys School for dereliction of duty, so that in future students do not suffer like my child.
Yours etc.,
A. Blah,
Shillong-2