Editor,
It seems to me that the administration in charge of enforcing the NGT regulations are either blind or for reasons best known to them are turning a blind eye to the large amount of coal mining taken place in and around the Shallang and Maweit area. On a recent trip to these two areas I saw for myself the extraction of coal from quarries. As a common citizen of Meghalaya it surprises me how this is happening so blatantly under the eyes of the law unless there is collusion. I also made enquiries as to documentation needed for the same and was horrified to find that challans were being sold at Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 23,000 per truck. The weigh bridge at Mawpun is a privately owned one which also is against the NGT rule. All vehicles were carrying well over the 9 ton limit prescribed by the NGT. When will this open loot of Meghalaya stop?
Yours etc.,
B Ryntathiang,
Via email
Building materials on public roads
Editor,
In Shillong it is common to see labourers in construction work mixing cement on public roads. The construction materials like sand and stones are also dumped along the PWD roads. One example is the Rilbong Zigzag road which is already very congested but where a residential building allegedly belonging to a public representative is being constructed without leaving the mandatory space from the main road. Since there is very little space between the building and the PWD road the construction materials are dumped by the roadside and take away the legitimate space that should be used by vehicles. It appears that the residents either don’t care about this encroachment on the public road for several months now or that they are too afraid of speaking up since the MLA is too powerful a person to be reckoned with. Meghalaya is truly a lawless society and without an elected Municipal Board all these issues pertaining to building laws etc., are tossed aside by the authorities and are violated with impunity by some residents. When will people learn to speak up and claim their rightful place?
Yours etc.,
LR Lyngdoh,
Via email
Trump should work for peace
Editor,
Old in age but young at heart, Mr. Donald Trump has terrified many by his unusual postures and gestures. Lots of filthy facts were brought out about Trump by the proactive media long before the US presidential election. Perhaps no previous presidents have so openly and so aggressively been challenged and belittled than the 45th President of USA. Trump owes his sharp rise in the number of enemies to his sharp tongue. Despite being an old sinner, his strong will power, perseverance and a slew of downsides of the arch-rival — Hillary Clinton finally helped him emerge triumphant in the election. Unlike his predecessors, Donald Trump has many tough hurdles to cross. Clearly lacking the diplomatic acumen of Barack Obama, Trump might experience unexpected political rough patches that might prove detrimental to the American citizenry. This might again upset the worldrelationship equation. Obama, though allegedly soft on the formidable ISIS and others, had never failed to endear himself to the majority of the world’s population, thanks to his shrewd oratory skill. What is so ominously perceived at present is that the embattled president is under siege by women’s groups. They are determinedly prepared to hammer their points to show their president’s ugly face. Mr. Trump’s sexist comments on women, coupled with his past infamous misdemeanours have indeed added fuel to the women’s movement for justice. Just one day after the presidential inauguration, unprecedented women’s marches in Washington, which was amplified by such processions in other major cities across the world, will be continuously and alarmingly ringing in the president’s ears. The media is also antagonistic to Mr Trump. Fairly in advance his office has sent out the message in strong terms to the media to exercise self-restraint. The President perceived the media as a stumbling block in his efforts to restore amity and peace. And thus, he squarely blames media for spreading lies and distorting facts. Hope, the lusty President Donald Trump will now grope with extra caution for the reconciliation with all groups unlike in the past.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong-2