Editor,
It is unfortunate to see our peaceful city of Shillong going back to those days of turmoil. Curfew is here again to remind us of those years of pain and violence. The recent incident should not have happened had appropriate legal measures been taken by the state authorities. As they say in English “a stitch in time saves nine.” Governments in the past have failed to address the issue of relocating the sweepers from Iew Mawlong to another place outside the city. In fact, the sweepers’ lane in Iew Mawlong has become literally a slum area and an eyesore to any passer-by. It is definitely unbecoming for any city to harbour sweepers in the centre of the market. When this colony was established way back in the past, Shillong was a small town and so it was acceptable. But Shillong today has grown into a metropolitan city and Iew Mawlong has become the business hub of the city. The relocation should have been done years ago. It is therefore right and legal for the government to relocate the sweepers to another location. However, different governments in the distant and recent past have all similarly failed to resolve the issue. What is evident is the lack of political will and perhaps the domination of personal interests of some politicians.
A similar situation exists with regard to illegal settlements along the bank of Wah Umkhrah in Polo region. I remember, many orders had been passed against such illegal constructions and lately the one passed by the NGT. But whenever the district authorities have tried to implement the orders, some politicians or some other interested groups enter the fray and all efforts go in vain. This is another example of political ambition at the cost of public good. I foresee similar trouble which may crop up in the future in the Polo area all because the government has not been decisive in addressing the issue in time. I hope the present government with all its good will, will sincerely seek to resolve all these issues as soon as possible so as to avoid such unfortunate incidents.
Yours etc.,
Barnes Mawrie sdb,
Via email
Present SMB office meant for quarters
Editor,
The present Shillong Municipal Office buildings in the European Ward are meant for the quarters of the Board employees residing in Iew Mawlong. In early 2006 during my tenure as CEO, Shillong Municipality, many of the employees of the Board residing in the present conflict point at Iew Mawlong had agreed to shift to the quarters constructed for them in the European ward except some of them who were reluctant. The said quarters in European ward remain unoccupied for some years and were in a dilapidated condition. They are now used to park the garbage trucks and cesspools till the shifting of the Board office to the said SMB quarters from Jail Road most probably in the year 2010 after my retirement.
My personal suggestion is to shift all the families of the employees of SMB to the present temporary office of the Board. SMB office may be shifted to any temporary rented building pending handing over of the SMB office at Jail Road. In view of the prevailing situation in the city and to diffuse the tension between law and order personnel and the agitators, a note on the above personal proposal already submitted to the Hon’ble Home Minister and the Hon’ble Urban Affairs Minister, Meghalaya for information and action by the office. Hopefully the notes sent to them are not dumped in the waste paper basket.
Yours etc.,
W.L.Lyngdoh
Former CEO Municipal Board.
Via email
Of waste pickers !
Editor,
This refers to the article, “Beating plastic pollution :Yes we can!” by H H Mohrmen (ST, June 4, 2018). Millions of our waste – pickers help India achieve the highest PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) recycling rates in the world! A report says that India recycles or reuses over 90 per cent of all the PET that is manufactured in our country and the waste – pickers in India are the largest driving force behind this. We can achieve almost 100 per cent PET recycling rates if we can use the service of adult waste – pickers in a methodical manner. Waste – pickers have been rendering great service to the cause of India’s garbage disposal and world’s environment, risking their own lives. While trying to keep the environment clean, they run the risk of allergy, skin rashes, tuberculosis and several other infections. They dispose of the garbage in the most scientific way by taking the recyclable materials from the garbage to where it can be recycled. Without their service, those materials would have been burnt, resulting in air pollution and warming of the environment or would have been dumped resulting in soil/ water pollution. They also prevent the scattered garbage from choking our drains. The waste – pickers deserve to be rewarded for their services and engaged in the Swachh Bharat Abihiyan (SBA). It will certainly help the Swachh Bharat Abihiyan to have more teeth.
The need of the hour is to entrust local self governments to register all adult waste pickers in their respective areas and make them engage in garbage recycling, compost creation and management. Corporations, municipalities and panchayats are to provide each of them under their jurisdiction with an identity card, a uniform, a sack and a stick (to shoo away street dogs and to rummage through garbage). They should also be given money, food, soap, hand – gloves and pollution – masks every week. These items will give them recognition, prestige and protection which they really deserve. Moreover, better look waste – pickers with clean uniform and sack will make our country look better.
There is however no question of disturbing the exclusive job of the cleaning staff to dispose of the non-recyclable garbage. Child waste – pickers must be encouraged to go to school and provided with food packets and other incentives, apart from the midday meal.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
Refuse plastic!
Editor
On June 5, every year the world celebrates, ‘World Environment Day’ and fortunately this year India happened to be the host. ‘World Environment Day’ was established in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly at ‘Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment’. World Environment Day is a flagship campaign for the awakening of individuals regarding environmental issues from marine pollution to growing global footprints and global warming.
The theme for 2018 is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. Plastic is one of the major concerns of environmental bodies as it has an imperishable degradation process, hence its introduction to the environment has been rampantly polluting it. Large quantities of plastic wastes generated and the lack of its proper disposal have been consistently threatening marine life, posing threat to human health and choking the natural environment.
Over 1 lakh marine animals are killed every year due to the imprudent disposal of plastic waste into water bodies. Presence of plastic micro-particles in air and water is hazardous to the health of all living creatures. Understanding the extremity of plastic usage in our daily life is difficult as plastic has become ineluctable.
Despite plastic being unhealthy for our environment, nothing much has been done to limit its use and for its proper disposal. Hence ‘World Environment Day’ is not a mere celebration but an ambitious effort to awaken governments, industries, communities, and people to realize the severity of plastic usage and how it has been a concerning factor, which is unattended. At this moment we are expected to meticulously and attentively understand the insignificant usage of plastic and conserve the natural environment from its life-threatening consequences. The existence of a healthy natural environment is our existence.
Yours etc.,
Saurav Thapa
Shillong -2
