Editor,
Apropos the letter “Still the Scotland of the east?” written by M S Sangma, I would easily say that Shillong no longer deserves to be called the Scotland of the East. Look at our surroundings. Look at the choc-a-bloc traffic jams which are a daily affair. The number of vehicles are increasing but the size of the roads, lanes and bye-lanes remain the same. I have been to many cities in India but have never seen such a city like Shillong where the digging of roads by different departments and even private parties are either allowed or silenced! The other day I was travelling by a local taxi to Police Bazar via DhankhetiLachummiere. The taxi driver was grumbling and murmuring when he had to apply his brake at a deep road cutting in front of F S Mansion, House No.177 just opposite to Loreto Convent. I was curious to know who might have done this. The taxi driver replied that it was cut by some politically strong person staying at F S Mansion to release the discharge from his compound into the Letters to the Editor must have the full name, address and contact number of the writer, even if they are sent by email. Only letters with the requisite details will be published. public drain! He further lamented that had it been he who did it, the concerned authorities would have pounced on him but this one has been remaining in that condition for the last many months.
This is only an example, perhaps, where the rule of law does not apply to the influential and the rich. PWD (Roads)….are you listening? Way back around the year 2005-06, the DC, Shillong had prohibited such diggings and hanging of posters/banners on the walls, electric/ telephone poles without prior permission from the concerned owners or authorities. That sounds sensible doesn’t it? Citizens of Shillong, well wishers and all the NGOs such as ICARE, CSWO, KSU, GSU, JSU, and all the religious groups, etc., I think it is time we wake up from our slumber and do our bit now to save our beloved Shillong before it is too late. Otherwise, Shillong will lose its reputation of being a clean hill city and a tourist destination forever!!
Yours etc.,
F Lyngdoh
Via e-mail
Where roads have disappeared
Editor,
The road from Lad Umsaw to Union Christian College junction, UmiamKhwan has deteriorated to the point where the pot holes are the size of craters and in many places, the road has all but disappeared. For some years now, the only repair work carried out was to fill these craters and even the road with stones and sand, which usually lasts just a week. For those unfortunate enough to live and work in this area, the daily commute through this road is turning into a health hazard. Expectant mothers are forced to go on prolonged leave of absence for fear that the daily, bone-jarring ride may harm the baby. For the rest of the commuters, visits to the orthopaedic doctor has become a regular affair. Adding to this predicament, there is also the danger of being hit by one of the numerous speeding trucks who have of late taken a fancy to travelling along this narrow, winding, dirt road which ultimately leads to the West Khasi Hills. With schools, houses and shops lining this dilapidated road, it doesn’t take much imagination to realise what calamitous event is waiting to happen. I therefore appeal to the P.W.D (Roads) to repair this road as early as possible for the welfare of all the people who have to travel along this road on a daily basis. Also will the Meghalaya High Court take cognisance of this plight of citizens which the Government has failed to address?
Yours etc.
, A Khyriem,
Via emai
The obnoxious High Command culture
Editor,
One is indeed fed-up to hear reports of the biannual running of the congress MLAs from Meghalaya to their High Command at New Delhi to air their dissidence and seek change of guard. With the decimation of Congress in both District Council elections and parliamentary by-poll in Garo Hills, this dissidence is spilling over now. It is indeed bizarre that the incumbent chief minister, Dr Mukul Sangma has no one else to choose from the state, except his wife, for the Tura by-poll. In fact, what Dr Sangma is practicing here is nothing short of what the Congress has largely done in the four poll bound states and one Union Territory recently where it earned rout after rout. One of the main reasons behind the Congress decimation is the selection of candidates. This is a party that cannot see beyond its families and relatives, as if, this country is their personal property and only their cohorts have the right to rule. The Congress MLAs, who are waiting for long for a leadership change in the state, can try the saffron brigade otherwise and see the change that unfolds. There is nothing impossible in politics and the recent saffron coup in Arunachal Pradesh and a near coup in Uttarakhand stand out as a quintessential example in this regard. The saffron party does not have a dynastic high command culture and perhaps the local MLAs, who waste their time and energy at the national capital to meet the mother – son duo, will be able to devote more time to serve their people – who have elected them. After all, what can this mother-son duo from 3000 km away be expected to do for this state except giving in to the demands of the rebel MLAs for whom it has become a game of a sorts that if they don’t find their way out then run to the mother – son who will fix the matter for the next six months. And after that comes the turn of the next batch of dissident MLAs. Is there any other Congress ruled state in the country where its MLAs run to the High Command biannually? Hope biannual does not become quarterly here in future.
Yours etc.
P. K. Dwivedi
Shillong – 1