Editor,
We have all detected the presence of some strange oily film on the surface of our tap water supplied by the Shillong Municipal Board and the Public Health Engineering Department. This has caused serious concern amongst the urban populace, who are mostly worried whether this oily content will cause any damage and affect our health and those of our loved ones. A quick check from any source will show that there are two main causes of oily film on the water, that is hydrogen sulphide and iron bacteria, which I believe the experts and officials of the Municipal Board and the PHE know best and have possibly taken some protective measures. There is however one concern that I would like to mention here, which I believe is also the concern of all those people who regularly travel along the Mylliem – Umtyngngar road.
The question that we would like the officials of these two very important departments to investigate and clarify is whether or not the rampant washing of vehicles along the banks in the upstream of the river that flows towards the reservoir contributes to this menace. As ignorant and uneducated citizens on the matter, we request the concerned authority to take serious steps in clearing all these doubts from the minds of the frightened people and to assure that it will not be dangerously hazardous to the public.
Yours etc.,
Wanshan.B.Khardewsaw
Shillong -2
The answer is blowing in the wind.
Editor,
For the past one week, in almost every issue of the local papers, there is a picture of the man in his white hair, grey kurta pajamas and black waist coat. The first thought that came to mind was “Good Lord the Kabuliwallahs (pathan money lenders) are back in town!” On closer scrutiny it turns out that it’s just good old DD Lapang, holding court and entertaining one and all with his, tongue in cheek, explanations as to why he walked away from the Congress party. From reports so far received, grocery stores all over town are running short of salt, as people are trying to swallow the DD story with fistfuls of the stuff.
Yet there’s more to come. The excitement refuses to die down and the mystery continues to deepen. It is a cultural truth that the indigenous people of these hills have a high regard for the maternal uncle (U Kni). With the Khasis he is the epitome of virtue, experience, wisdom and good sense. The NPP and the MDA to their utter and pleasant surprise suddenly found a ‘big uncle’ on the loose, roaming aimlessly in their own backyard. With elections so close and Christmas only two months away, this was a gift from heaven too good to be ignored. They grabbed Ma Heh!
The final curtain however has yet to fall. God only knows how this episode will eventually end but, by Jove, another twist to the story has already started to unfold. Ma Heh now denies all claims that he has joined the NPP. He says he is there simply as Advisor to the Govt only because it allows him the platform to continue to serve the people he loves. By Jupiter, that’s another jolly good one, but why does he make this claim with the impish smile of Aite the Greek God of mischief? Some knis carry the reputation of being very slippery when they want to. Big Uncle is already displaying the slippery nature of the legendry doh thli ( an eel like fish) Bhoi. He is proving very difficult to pin down and the plot thickens with his threat that soon, in the near future, he will make his pilgrimage to Delhi to pay his respects to Sonai Ji. For those seeking an answer, the answer is blowing in the wind but Ma Heh the actor seems to have finally found his true vocation.
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah,
Via email
Misplaced Priorities!
Editor,
Apropos the article “Meghalaya: What are our priorities” (ST Oct 5, 2018) by Patricia Mukhim, I would like to add that the State of Meghalaya is indeed a state with many misplaced priorities. Successive governments have come and gone but they seem to be least interested in addressing those policies which negatively impact and affect the citizens of the state. Sadly, the Opposition (which was in power the last term) also seems to be engrossed in its own game of ‘toppling down’ the present Government and couldn’t care less about the welfare of the common citizens. They have achieved very little when they were in power and what we remembered instead was just a spate of ceremonial laying of foundation stones with the sounding of the bugle (pun intended). Again, now they are always after petty things (such as the resignation of Dr. Lapang or claiming that the CM is a BJP nominee) and they forget the real concerns of the state and its citizens, their constituents, the common man. In this game of political one-upmanship, it is the much-needed priorities that are being neglected and the common man who suffers. Different sectors such as healthcare, education etc. and important issues such as the vexed boundary problem with Assam have all taken a back seat. The hapless villagers of Block-I and Block-II are at the receiving end because of the lackadaisical attitude of successive governments. Why is there so much hue and cry over the resignation of Dr. Lapang and I wonder why his resignation or his joining another political party is receiving so much media attention; what difference will it really make to the state or its citizens if he chooses to join any political party for that matter? I think the media need to rather focus on all the important priorities to constantly serve as a reminder to the powers that be lest they forget. I can see a flicker of hope, though, with the present government after it has delivered on the much needed and long pending Education Policy, but that’s not enough! As rightly pointed out by Albert Thyrniang in his article (ST Oct 2, 2018), it is reformation or revolution that is the need of the hour and not just an Education Policy; in fact, the entire education system in the state needs to be revamped! However, one cannot simply undermine the steps taken by this government and it’s is a positive step taken in the right direction to start with. And let us not be quick to judge this cabinet. After all, many of them are first-timers and even the leader himself had a very brief stint as a minister during the last formation. They may still be unripe and may take some time to mature and gain the necessary skills but again, time itself will tell how efficient and more importantly how dedicated they are or will be. In the meantime, let us keep our fingers crossed and sincerely hope that the one progressive step taken will be followed by many more steps and not the other way around. Until then, it’s just hope and hopefully, I’m or w e’re not disappointed.
Yours etc.
Aibor Dkhar,
Shillong-2