Editor,
The recent confessions by the Catholic, Presbyterian and other church leaders and elders that they paid several lakhs illegally to the Syiem of Mylliem and his Myntri without any receipt from their office for land purchase but which is termed as gifted land is shocking. As a Christian I am ashamed and shocked that they indulged and encouraged blatant corruption. The top authorities of the Church must investigate how they knowingly condoned such acts of corruption. As per the PCN and other Khasi cable news channels money was paid to some Myntris who were in charge of Land Department under the Office of Hima Mylliem. These Myntris were conduits for the Syiem and his Dorbar. If this is true it is a shameful act by the respective Myntri who has brought dishonour to his own clan. He ought to be prosecuted by the law of the land. The KHADC must file an immediate FIR at the nearest police station if they are not hand in glove with this shameful act of corruption. We also request the Income Tax Department to investigate the matter. If the different churches are registered as NGOs how can they pay cash when the law demands that they pay by cheque? These church elders must bow their heads in shame for flouting the laws of the land.
Yours etc.,
Lydia Marbaniang,
Via email
Where are the award wapsi dolts?
Editor,
Where is our award wapsi brigade? Where are they hiding now? These opportunists who returned various government awards and honours in protest against the gimmick called “intolerance debate” in the country in the recent past are found mysteriously and notoriously silent now when a youth in Bihar’s Gaya was shot dead in a cold blooded murder by the son of an MLC. This brigade of dolts, among whom is also one from Shillong, were vocal then against the national intolerance debate. However, it looks like they have lost their entire tooth suddenly to remonstrate when this Gaya youth was shot down because he overtook the vehicle of the son of an MLC in Bihar government. The move by the award wapsi brigade then looked as if they will not tolerate any unrighteousness and immorality whereas its members have themselves gone inhuman now when they should have been rightly raising their voices, in unison. Their muteness only proves that they are nothing less than “mere politicians” who politicize issues to their advantage. Some of the brigade members who were seen on television channels brazenly voicing their concerns against terrorists being sentenced by the highest court of the land are today mute and blind on the cold blooded murder of this youth and rising VVIP racism in the country. But luckily we have a few electronic and print media houses asking direct questions and revealing all of this criminality because of whom there has not been a cover-up so far.
Yours etc.
- K. Dwivedi
Shillong – 1
Beautification work on Howell Road
Editor,
For the past few weeks the Howell Road in Laban is being dug up through its entire length starting from the Red Cross bridge. This is being done so as to have a better drainage system and also to accommodate the water pipes. This digging work has caused great inconvenience to pedestrians, adjoining shop owners and nearby residents. Roadside parking of vehicles is well night impossible. Several people have fallen into these pits and injured themselves. However, short term inconveniences are worth the trouble if the long term goals are fulfilled.
My bone of contention is, however, different. About a decade ago a similar exercise was undertaken on the right side of the same road and a similar drain constructed for the same purpose. In the past few years a lot of water, plastic bags, plastic bottles (to name a few) have been thrown into the drain. Now this drain is clogged. When it rains heavily the shopkeepers have to be on their toes to prevent spillage of muck from the drain into their shops. Moreover the stench emanating from the drain is unbearable. As far as my knowledge goes, the drains have not even once been cleaned in all these years. Health hazards cannot be ruled out as the water flowing through pipes which pass through the drain could get contaminated at any point in time.
I hope the concerned authorities have taken all these into consideration otherwise we may very soon be confronted by water borne diseases.
Yours etc.,
Dr G Kar Purkayastha,
Shillong-4
Solar power as a viable alternative
Editor,
I would like to highlight some of the major problems regarding power supply in the North East. Everyone is aware that most hydel projects in the North east are executed by NEEPCo. Examples are the Kopili and Kathalguri hydel projects (Assam), Ranganadi and Kemang hydel projects (Arunachal Pradesh), Doyang hydel project (Nagaland) and the gas and solar-based projects in Tripura. It is admirable that NEEPCo is contributing its sincere efforts for generation of power not only in North East India but also other parts of the country. It must be noted that most of the hydel projects under NEEPCo are generating approximately 30-40% of power out of the total capacity. This deficiency in hydel power generation can be overcome by solar power. NEEPCo has advertised for procurement of land for solar projects but this is yet to be finalized.
The Kopili project with a total capacity of 275 MW is non-functional since 2013 because of major renovation works. So is the case with other hydel projects. It has also come to light that China is constructing mega dams at the source of the Brahmaputra river and its major tributaries which feed most of the hydel projects of North East India. These projects have now become non-viable. At the same time, solar energy is not feasible in the North East because of moisture and humidity in the atmosphere. Nevertheless about 35-40% energy can be generated through solar power and it can be an alternative and stable source of power. I therefore request the NEEPCo authorities to execute solar projects at the earliest.
Yours etc.,
Dominic Lyngkhoi,
West Khasi Hills