Editor,
Apropos the news item where the NESO President, Samuel Jyrwa gave a call for shifting the Assam Rifles and the Eastern Air Command headquarters away from Shillong ( ST May 1, 2016), I find this the biggest joke ever. Jyrwa justifies his demands by citing that the tribal land owners are aggrieved. Being a tribal myself, I strongly condemn the said statement. The simple logic is that once the land has been transferred to whoever person or agency in exchange for money, the question of land ownership no longer arises. The compensation for such plots of land has been made a long time ago to the then land owners. Now if the children and grand children of those land owners want to take back the land, then they ought to dig the graves of their grandparents to find the land or the money, if any. I suspect that few unscrupulous land agents must have influenced the president of the NESO to make such foolish statements or with ulterior motives. Anyway if the caliber of the president of NESO is that low, I cannot imagine what the future of the North East will be like. Likewise, may I also make a suggestion to shift the KSU office to Tura, the IIM, NIFT and NEIGRIHMS to Assam, the Civil Hospital, the Secretariat, schools like St Edmunds, St Anthony’s, St Mary’s, Loretto, Pine Mount, etc to the jungles of Balpakram to solve traffic congestion in Shillong. Is this a good idea?
Yours etc.,
Jopthiaw Basaiawmoit
Shillong-2
Should MLAs skip an important meeting?
Editor,
Apropos the news item, “Opposition MLAs skip Ampareen’s meeting on municipal poll (ST May 3, 2016) I would like to highlight here that the proposed municipal election in Shillong is a very vulnerable issue that needs threadbare debate and discussions to arrive at a solution and to erase all the apprehensions and doubts from the minds of the citizens. All MLAs of the urban area of Shillong ought to sit together and discuss the matter at length. The absence of the opposition MLAs from the meeting reveals their irresponsible acts, shirking their duties and responsibility as important representatives. If this be the case these opposition MLAs are not worth the salt of being out representatives.
Yours etc.,
T L Lyngdoh, Shillong-2
Why waste public money?
Editor,
I wish express my support to Mr. R. G. Lyngdoh’s protest against the enhancement of MLA Scheme (ST, 10th May, 2016). This scheme had only provided an opportunity to some MLAs to boast of their kindness and capability by just distributing schemes and material things to the people from the fund that is already available without their intelligent effort, to compensate for their lack of competence as leaders and legislators. In the same way, it is advisable that the MDC scheme in the District Council should be abolished, and development works be undertaken in a planned manner and implemented by competent line departments of the Council (if there are any), as is being done in other ADCs in North East India rather than through haphazard distribution of doles by the MDCs. There is no MDC scheme in other ADCs of North East India.
Yours etc.,
Fabian Lyngdoh
Via email
Well done PAC!
Editor,
The Public Accounts Committee of the State Assembly has done right in calling the officers of the respective departments to enlighten the Committee as to why matters like land compensation, safe drinking water, transport services etc., have failed. The fact is tardiness, slow implementation and absence of benchmarks have resulted in under-development which cannot be entirely blamed on any single agency. A thorough investigation needs to be carried out before arriving at a conclusion. The PAC should also look at the pathetic health care system prevailing here ranging from non-functional health centres to lack of staff, pay and grade parity etc. These are issues that plague most departments. We need to also have an accident and trauma care centre at every Block, CHC and PHC due to rising road accidents. The PAC would do well in not just summoning the officials and take their answers at face value but also conduct surprise checks on critical public services so that immediate measures are adopted to redress public grievances.
Yours etc.,
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong-3
Noise pollution!
Editor,
In Motinagar, in front of the building which has been banned by the Hon’ble High Court there is another building under construction. Due to the noise emanating from the machines till late night we the neighbours are disturbed and cannot sleep. I have brought this to the attention of the people at the site but there is no response. Who will control the noise pollution in this city?
Yours etc.,
T S Singh,
Via email