Editor,
Apropos the news report, ‘BSNL taking consumers for a ride in Tura’ published in your paper (ST Oct 25, 2016), the case has been examined by Mobile Operation team of BSNL. The main areas where BSNL mobile network had failed as reported in your esteemed newspaper are Upper & Lower Chandmari and Rongkhon Region of West Garo Hills. These areas are mostly covered from Tura Chandmari BTS and Rongkhon Fodder Farm BTS. However, all the sites of Tura city have been checked and it is found that, BSNL site at Tura Chandmari near Bishop House, which is at the far end of Chandmari cannot provide seamless 2G/3G coverage to both Lower & Upper Chandmari areas. Hence another site under the ongoing GSM Phase VII Add On has been planned at Chandmari area.
The BTS at Rongkhon Fodder Farm is equipped with 2G only, hence 3G coverage cannot be provided in Rongkhon area.Optimum/enhanced 3G services cannot be provided from the few existing BTSs in Tura city owing to the hilly terrain thereby restricting the transmission of radio frequency. Therefore in order to provide satisfactory 3G coverage at Tura city, 2 (two) more 3G sites have been planned under GSM Phase VII Add On Project.DGM (Qjvl) O/oGMTD Shillong
From the recent weekly report on a whole day basis i.e. w.e.f 18/10/16 to 26/10/16, it is seen that the call drops in Tura city are within limits.
Yours etc.,
DGM (CM)
O/o GMTD, Shillong
Abject failure of MeECL
Editor,
The media failed to give due and proper coverage to the recent tragic incident at Lyniong village wherein a pregnant mother along with her five children lost their lives due to the disgraceful, shameless and careless attitude of the MeECL. Those responsible for the incident and whose careless and reckless behaviour cost the lives of the entire family should be booked for murder. Most local vernacular papers highlighted the incident but what was missing was the lack of condemnation by so-called political parties and their ‘ stalwarts.’ It is very unfortunate that the government keeps on constituting such committees without any one being held accountable. The incident reminds me of a similar tragic event that occurred in Khliehriat a few years back and till today the authorities are not held responsible for such carelessness. The High Court of Meghalaya should take suo-moto action against the MeECL against such acts of recklessness.
Yours etc…
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong-3
Timely article
Editor,
Kudos to Proloy Bagchi for his article, “Threatened by Govt Adverts?” (ST, October 27, 2016). ‘Letters to the Editor’ section of a newspaper is one of the pillars of democracy. It can be compared with a park where people get the free space for deep breathing and exchanging their ideas. Scrapping the columns of ‘Letters to the Editor’ is akin to selling the park to a promoter ignoring the larger interest of the society. The need of the hour is to formulate an objective yardstick by which government advertisements in newspapers are to be channelled through a legislative body comprising members of both ruling and opposition parties. The parameters for giving government advertisements to a newspaper must be based on determinants other than the whims of a ruling party. It would be dangerous for a democracy if government advertisements are used as a carrot and stick to gag the voice of the fourth estate.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata