Editor,
It was intriguing to read in your newspaper that the MLA Mawphlang Constituency has been giving lessons on water supply to the Minister PHE during the ongoing Assembly Session. It was intriguing because the person who is solely responsible for the total mess and derailment of the GSWSS Phase-III project has the audacity today of questioning a person who is a novice and has very recently taken over the Department. People are aware that this project which was prepared to bring about proper piped treated water to 3 new townships of Shillong Urban Agglomeration and also to streamline the existing water supply to Shillong Municipal area as well as 3 other townships of Shillong Urban Agglomeration got derailed completely and the Department ended up doing piecemeal work. The major part of the achievement reported is primarily due to the most lucrative work i.e. procurement of pipes and equipments. No wonder that the powers that be were merrily dancing in Pinewood in parties thrown by the pipe suppliers at the initiation of the project.
The MLA concerned should instead explain in the Assembly as to what is the status of laying the main distribution networks in the Shillong Municipal areas, Mawlai, Nongthymmai, Pynthorumkrah etc, reduction of the huge distribution losses, conversion of bunched connection into single distribution lines, household connections from ferrule points so as to do away with the small distribution tanks, improvement of water quality, the household meters which were to be installed.
None of these works were ever done and instead the blame game campaign was started against PWD, Govt. of India MUDA etc. for covering the misdeeds and failure of the Department which the MLA then headed. It is unfortunate and sad that almost Rs 150 crores of public money was wasted in the project and the outcome is for everyone to see. Even the High Court is rightly questioning about the quality of water being supplied in the city.
The Problem in our state is that nobody is held accountable for their misdeeds in Government and in case the stars, the projects and leaders favour you, you land up as MLA and Ministers. To be fair and to send a right message to the masses, the present Government should set up an enquiry to evaluate as to how the over Rs 150 crore was spent and what has been the benefit to the citizens. Fortunately, Congress has not come back to power otherwise the same person would have been the Minister of PHE. Believe me.
Yours etc.,
- Mawlong
Shillong-3
Let’s get serious about garbage
Editor,
Apropos the news item, “Lack of waste management adds to Wahumkhrah woes” (ST Oct.3, 2018). On this I wish to comment that the dirt, filth and garbage of Shillong has been mounting on our heads since the last century, yet we are still discussing as to what to do with this problem. In fact too many rounds of discussions on the problem have been held in this city for last many years by officials as well as by non-officials but there is no solution in sight and no concrete and sustained action has been taken. In fact, so many awareness programmes, seminars and workshops were held on the subject yet no results were seen on the ground. Again so many academic discussions were held to surmount the problem yet this monster gets bigger and bigger.
Experts were called in to offer long lasting solutions but the problem persists. Many excellent suggestions were offered to solve the problem yet none were implemented. A similar exercise was undertaken on October 2 last at the conference Hall of Powergrid in the city with the hope that a solution can be arrived at regarding the problem of garbage in the city. Solutions defy us because we take great delight in discussion but we refuse to engage ourselves in concrete action which is the permanent solution to the problem. We feel that it is below our dignity to pull up our sleeves and our pants and to get into the thick of the garbage by cleaning with our hands our compounds, our neighbourhood and our Wah Umkhrah and Wah Umshyrpi rivers and their tributaries. And we keep on grumbling and blaming somebody else who pollutes these rivers. Rallies, seminars, workshops, debates, talks were held and will be held in future on how to overcome the problem yet these will boil down to nothing until and unless some concrete steps are taken on the ground. Solution can be found only by doing not by academic discussions. Discussions up to a certain level is required but that should start by taking action on the ground. The need of the hour is to initiate immediate action and the time is now. Let us all do it.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Via email