The East Khasi Hills district administration is not taking any chances on the law and order front, as the state The East Khasi Hills district administration is not taking any chances on the law and order front, as the state heads for the Assembly elections early next year. Already, as a part of the election management plan, meetings are being held with the police administration in regard to mapping vulnerable areas so that additional personnel can be deployed there as a precaution. East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner PS Dkhar says the administration is on the job to also ensure security and safety in the 70-odd pandals during the Pujas, which are barely a week away. Dkhar talked about ensuring smooth traffic and plying of buses in the late hours during the celebration.Saurav Bora caught up with the IAS officer in his office chamber on Wednesday evening.
Here are the excerpts of the interview:
ST: With just a few months for the Assembly elections, how are you gearing up for law and order maintenance?
Dkhar: We cannot take chances in the first place…and therefore while we proceed closely towards the election process, we already had two or three rounds of meetings with the police officials where we are trying to come out with maps to identify vulnerable areas. We are also trying to ensure that there is proper coordination between the district administration, local committees and NGOs. However, we have to keep the Election Commission in the loop as the process is a part of the election management plan to locate trouble-prone areas and deploy adequate manpower as a precaution.
ST: Of late, violent incidents have been triggered by what is believed to be political rivalry. How will you check this dangerous trend?
Dkhar: As far as the district administration is concerned, we have to look at all aspects…today we have one incident of violence here, tomorrow we might have another there… So, while this is like a wake-up call, we are certainly geared up to tackle such crimes.
ST: What is the percentage of enrollment of Aadhaar cards in the district so far and when will the process be over?
Dkhar: So far so good. While I cannot tell you the exact figures right now, we have covered 38 to 40 per cent people…As of now, I can say that the process will continue…throughout the year…
ST: There are complaints of people facing harassment in getting their Aadhaar cards, with some being told to get a pre-approval from their respective headmen. How are you addressing this problem?
Dkhar: We are trying to streamline the enrollment process to avoid chaos and rush in a particular locality. For example, there may be 500-600 people waiting in a centre the whole day with some not getting enrolled. Say, if we have to cater to the people of Laban, we do not want people from Jail Road to come to Laban for enrollment…The idea of bringing the dorbar and local committees here is that we cater to a particular section of people…Here any authority can sign the document and not necessarily the headman …even a house owner can sign…at the end of the day it is the document which the person brings that matters….
ST: Is the district administration ready for Durga Puja?
Dkhar: Yesterday, we had the second meeting with the Central Puja Committee where we discussed the role of the district/police administration and the committee. From the administration’s side, we discussed plans related to security, traffic, parking, electricity, etc. We have asked the committee to ensure that every pandal adheres to standard procedures such as placement of CCTV cameras, deployment of volunteers, safety norms, electricity, etc.
There will be about 74 puja pandals in the district. The magistrates who have been allotted area wise, will have their committees at the thana level…they will also have a meeting three four days before puja in regard to parking and safety. The district administration has also written a letter asking MUDA to play SPTS buses till about 9.30pm during the Puja nights.
ST: Localities such as Laban, Rilbong, Bishnupur and Mawprem are yet to have access to the SPTS bus service. Has the district administration taken up the matter with MUDA?
Dkhar: Yes, I had a meeting with MUDA last month and taken up the matter of plying SPTS buses to areas like Rilbong and Last Stop. MUDA had engaged an agency to run the SPTS buses and Rilbong/Bishnupur were not part of the original map. So I have told them to make adjustments if necessary and operate the service in the areas at least in the peak hours if not the entire day.
I will follow up with MUDA after a week or so to find out what the position is.
ST: Garbage disposal and lack of cleanliness are issues that still plague Shillong. What measures are you taking in this regard?
Dkhar: See…All departments, be it forest, municipal board and PWD, are engaged in ensuring cleanliness and proper disposal of garbage…Each one is playing its own role…The SP can also book anyone under the Meghalaya Police Act, if anyone is not adhering to the norms of garbage disposal.
ST: Has the district administration taken any measures such as deployment of tourist guides to make tourists access places of interest?
Dkhar: A lot of things have to be done…maintenance of cleanliness is one. Secondly, we have to look at tour operators and ensure they are trained and professionals. Tourist guides, as you mentioned, will of course help people besides being an employment avenue. We also have to look at an organised set up at the Dorbar level as well where people have to be trained to cater to tourists.
ST: There have been complaints of residents not receiving sugar under PDS in many localities. Some also allege that a “privileged” section have two ration cards (BPL and APL) when the poor are deprived of their BPL cards. How will you ensure judicious distribution of ration cards?
Dkhar: See, as far as sugar is concerned, we are not getting any quota…the last agreement has expired and I think the government has not renewed it.
Regarding ration cards, people are not supposed to have two cards…If anybody has two, one can inform the district administration and we will take action accordingly.
ST: Agencies distributing LPG cylinders have of late faltered in regard to timely delivery of refills. Will the administration ensure refills are delivered to consumers on time?
Dkhar: Last time I had a meeting with the LPG agencies, I had asked them to adhere to the standard operations such as accepting bookings through SMS. In fact, the IOC has also made it mandatory that bookings should be done through SMS and that the refills are delivered to consumers on time.
ST: The murder of a woman street vendor in Police Bazar recently raises the question of safety of women. Is the district administration taking measures to make women feel safe?
Dkhar: If any protection is required, the district/police administration can definitely help…But it is also important for women to take care and not venture out late.
ST: Some localities in the city are plunged into darkness almost every night with non-functional streetlights, which also have encouraged crimes. How will you address this problem?
Dkhar: The MeECL should take care of this aspect…but of course there is a tussle between the municipal board and the power corporation when it comes to repair of streetlights…But whenever there is a meeting with me, I tell them to not wait for the other party…but carry out work immediately.