Editor,
In the recent meet of the North Eastern Council held in Guwahati Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, proposed for an 8-Lane-Highway Road Project from Guwahati to Chittagong via Shillong to export minerals to South East Asia. In this respect, we offer our views that a project of this nature should not run through the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, as such project is not necessary for the area, and will not benefit the bulk of the indigenous people at all, and is rather fraught with very dangerous consequences in population and exploitation. We hope that Garo people also would not like the highway to run through Garo Hills. If it runs through other States, we have nothing to say.
May we draw the kind attention of the Meghalaya Govt and solicit the views of our local people as well as social organizations in the matter through the columns of your esteemed daily.
Your etc.,
RST Lyngdoh
DR K Syiem & others,
Camp: Shillong
Traffic jams in Shillong
Editor,
Much has been talked about the traffic jams of Shillong in meeting after meeting but with no solution in sight. We need competent and far sighted politicians and bureaucrat to tackle this problem. But these qualities are lacking in the concerned departments. That’s why traffic jams remains as they are and continue to be so. Incompetence, ignorance and lack of talent are a hindrance to progress and development in the state. In spite of these, still we have to find ways and means to solve these pernicious problems.
Suggestions and solution: Existing main roads and internal roads that connect and lead to the main road should be widened and broadened whenever possible. Expansion should be done from both sides of the roads by acquiring lands from both private and especially Govt land. There is abundant land available in many places along the existing roads that belong to the central /State Govt and private owners that the State Govt can acquire. Few examples are the land in Barik belonging to PWD where its office and quarters are located. This can be acquired and sliced from all three sides of its compound. The same should be done from the side of Civil Hospital, Defence land in Rhino, turning point from the side of the PWD quarters near Step by Step School and from other side of the Geological Survey of India near Malki Point. The land should be sliced and straightened so that the width of the road is increased. Land also should be acquired and sliced from Assam House, St Edmund’s School/College etc.
The same should be done to other parts across Shillong. The triangular junction in the middle of the road near Fire Brigade – Iewrynghep ground where the police traffic personnel are posted for directing the movement of the vehicles should be dismantled completely.
Flyovers are perhaps another solution to the problem of traffic jam. But flyovers are not a new concept. In 1992, I was told by the then Commissioner and Secretary to the Govt. of Meghalaya, Urban affair department that he was in the process of submitting a proposal to the central Govt. for construction of flyovers for Shillong with the assistances from the Govt. of Japan.
Your etc.,
Stelin G Laloo,
Jowai
Irregular appointments in MHRC
Editor,
We, the parents of job aspirants to the office of Meghalaya Human Rights Commission are anguished about the selection process for appointment to different posts in the office of the Commission. We would like to bring to your kind notice that this office had advertised for various posts i.e. Stenographers, Accountant, LDCs, Record Keeper-cum Record-sorter, Data Entry Operator, and Drivers, sometimes in the early years of 2018 and written tests for some of these posts had been conducted and interviews held during this year. From reliable sources it is learnt that most of the above posts are filled up by persons who are already in the Commission being the persons/ right hand man/woman of the top bosses of the Commission.
It is astonishing to note that the post of Record sorter and Data Entry Operator had been filled up by persons already working in the Commission itself and results for the posts of LDCs and Accountant will be out soon. Most probably the results will be in favour of staff who are already in the Commission.
If this is the case then, why advertise the posts just to trouble those thousands of aspirants who have to toil from morning till night reading different books to prepare themselves, spending the examination fees recklessly, spending lots of time to prepare for the examination, wasting time to run from pillar to post to update the application forms and spending much time to apply for the posts with 0 % hope. That a Human Rights organisation should be doing this is not acceptable.
We want people at large to become aware of this menace.
Yours etc.,
- Diengdoh,
E L Pde, B. Lyngdoh
Shillong-2
Pakistan’s dirty tricks
Editor,
Just as a sow (female pig) that is washed returns to wallow in the mud, Pakistan returns to its ugly ways of waywardness after India struck the Balakot terror camp. Moreover, 500 ultras are preparing to sneak into India. Pakistan, a recalcitrant nation, is coming back again to its crooked ways to attack India by sending infiltrators. The Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat on Monday sent out a clear warning to Islamabad saying the response to the terror camp getting functional again may go beyond India’s previous response by way of an airstrike by the IAF in February.
The presence of more than 450-500 terrorists which is double their strength in the last three years – at terror launch pads and camps is indeed worrying India and these well-trained terrorists will try to infiltrate both from the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border. India faces a similar situation like that of Israel. The only difference is that while Israel has more than one enemy around it, India has only one irritating enemy-Pakistan. People of Pakistan do not know that time has changed and the old ways of disturbing one’s neighbours are passé. Instead Pakistan should try and build friendly relations with India which will result in more constructive results. It is hoped that Pakistan would understand the gravity of a relationship with India and not try to lock horns with it.
Yours etc.,
TK Nandanan,
Via email