Editor,
About a year ago I had written a letter in this column about a 5-storey building under construction in the compound of Shillong Commerce College behind the Governor’s House. There was no rejoinder or clarification to my query by the authorities concerned. Now after a year I notice that the 5th storey has been completed and work on the 6th storey is under progress with rods jutting out perhaps for the 7th storey to come up in future.
This has made me wonder as to what are the rules governing the number of floors permitted at present. How is it that over 20 buildings were sealed by the authorities concerned on the orders of the High Court for violating the number of floors? Many of these building owners were well within the permissible number of floors at that time and had valid permission from the authorities concerned. They are now totally devastated and suffering untold miseries. Many of these people had taken loans and advances from banks and are now in no position to repay the loan. God only knows why this matter has been lingering with no solution is in sight.
Is it that we are totally incapable of assessing technically whether there is violation or because of the adamant behaviour of some, on account of which many ordinary people are made to suffer. In this scenario, this particular building under construction has raised some doubts in my mind that there may perhaps be some powerful hands behind because of which such blatant action is being perpetrated by the building owner. Rules cannot be different for different people. Irrespective of whether it is a residential or commercial or institutional building the rules should apply equally for all. I am sure that even after my letter is published, no action will be taken by the authorities and no clarification will be forthcoming and then perhaps in the next year I will see the 7th floor of that building also completed. However, as a responsible citizen it is my duty to point out the gross injustice that I see all around me and hope that things will improve some day soon.
Yours etc.,
B Mawlong
Shillong-3
MEPDCL mistreats consumers
Editor,
The Meghalaya power supply company has changed names several times MeSEB to MePDCL to MEGH POWER to MECL etc. But mere change in nomenclature does not necessarily lead to better service or a change for the better. This is amply proven by the decrepit service and regular power cuts of the by this Power Company. The bold neon lights with the words ‘lighting up your lives’ are all lip service. Essentially the serice has just gone down with every passing day but no one is holding this Power Supplier accountable. In fact it functioned much better when it was MeSEB. At present, consumers in the capital city are suffering power cuts, not to speak of consumers in other parts of the state. Right now some consumers in Shillong have to remain without power for more than eight hours at a stretch and sometimes even overnight in this unbearable cold. Adding to the consumers’ woes, the telephones in the offices of the respective Area Managers are not attended to hence consumers are left high and dry. Even the toll free number 1912 just gives a peculiar tone but is never attended to. Consumers are frustrated as they have no other place to lodge their complaints.
On rare occasions when the phone calls are attended to then there are false assurances. More often than not, the main overhead electric wires on the main roads get snapped every now and then. The wires snap even with light winds, during rains and in almost all types of weather causing casualties and even threat to public life. Only God knows about the quality of the said wires. I have to suggest here on behalf of all the consumers that if this Power Company is unable to provide the basic amenities to its consumers then why not hand over the running of this Company to a private party? MeDCL is not doing charity. In fact they are collecting higher amounts from the consumers by installing the new metres that give higher readings compared to the earlier ones. Finally, water, electricity and telephone are the basic necessities of life and the consumers do not any compromise on these.
Yours etc
Dr B Dhar
Shillong -3
Loan waiver needed
Editor,
In the article, “Well-directed policies required to improve plight of farmers” (ST, December 19, 2018), Nilanjan Banik rightly said that loan waivers cannot increase farm income. But when a large number of farmers have been committing suicide, farm loan waiver is as necessary now as treating a patient with first aid and saline. After that the agrarian crisis must be dealt with following the prescription of the Swaminathan Commission. Indeed, farmers have been demanding for implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission for a long time.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata