Editor,
It appears that the Covid protocols in Meghalaya are meant only for ordinary citizens of the state. As is seen from the recent visit of the CM to Manipur the Covid protocols were not binding on him and is also not applicable to Government officials specifically the CM and the Deputy CM. Recently the CM on account of political expediency related to his party affairs travelled to Manipur and Delhi thereby violating the Covid protocols laid down by the State govt. Is this the example he is setting for the people of Meghalaya? Is the visit rational and valid? The CM ignores the fact that the virus is contagious, and that it might affect those who need to meet with him. It is also funny that the Deputy CM is forcefully justifying and vindicating what the CM does by terming his visit to Manipur as ‘official.’ Are people of Meghalaya fools? Do the CM and Deputy CM require to be taught the difference between politics and government ? During this pandemic, even the PM respects and honours Covid protocols. At this catastrophic moment PM Modi has set aside politics. He is concerned with ways and means to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.
What about the CM and the Deputy CM of Meghalaya? Do they not have any responsibility and accountability to the people? It is shameful that the duo in their desperate attempt to save the Government in Manipur have temporarily forgotten the Covid-19 pandemic. They are both opportunists and care more about politics than the people.
Yours etc.,
Batskhem Mawlein
Shillong – 2
Whither GSWSS Phase III
Editor,
As a concerned citizen, I am pained to see that Phase-III of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme is yet to be completed even after 12 years of laying the foundation stone of the project on October 22, 2008 by the then President of India, Pratibha Patil. The main objective of Phase-III of GSWSS is for generation, treatment and distribution of additional water from Mawphlang to augment the shortfall of water supply to Greater Shillong areas already covered under Phase-I and Phase-II like Shillong Municipality areas, Cantonment areas, Mawlai, Nongthymmai etc., and to supply water to 2001 census towns of Pynthorumkhrah, Nongmynsong and Madanrting. The Covid lockdown has affected to a great extent the progress of the work executed by Tantia Construction Company.
Now, I came to know that prior to the Covid lockdown, work components of the phase like intake water pump house, gravity pump house, filter house, installation electro mechanical components at the filter house, laying of main pipelines and other items of work were progressing well but laying of pipelines in many areas to be covered under the phase are still incomplete. Moreover, a number of works still remain to be completed in major components at the Mawphlang site. It is also reliably learnt that an approximate amount of Rs 88 crore is required to complete the remaining works of Phase-III before its final commissioning.
Now, it is difficult to predict when the project will be completed since that would depend on availability of additional funds to carry out the remaining works besides the cost escalation of civil and technical works.
In this connection, I appeal to the MDA government to immediately arrange the required funds and to place the amount with the PHE department so that it can do the needful. I also urge Mr Samlin Malngiang, the Minister in charge PHE and the engineers in charge of the project to take full responsibility to ensure speedy and early completion of the project. We cannot afford to further delay it because the people of Shillong have suffered enough these past several years owing to water scarcity and three months from now we will again see the plight of the people here who have to walk miles to get their supply of water.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein.
Shillong
Shillong-Dawki road project
Editor,
The recent news about Defence authorities agreeing to part with land for expansion of Shillong-Dawki Road is heartening. The people of southern parts of Khasi Hills who have suffered for a long, long time because of increasing traffic congestion are hoping that they won’t have to wait for decades for completion of the project. I am simply intrigued by the inattention of the Meghalaya Government towards its expansion for all these 50 years. This road was built by the British and has remained that way even after Independence. For 50 long years, strangely, nobody pushed for it, while we suffered silently. I don’t remember that this critical matter was ever seriously raised in the Assembly or even in the District Council. If the Assembly failed to take note of the plight of the travelling public, at least the District Council could have passed a resolution to make it incumbent on the Government to pursue it more earnestly.
Be that as it may, now that the clearance has been obtained from Defence Ministry, let the State Government not get into a slumber again. So many essential projects have suffered because of bureaucratic red-tape, hence we are worried that this project may also suffer further delay at the hands of insensitive officials. All out efforts must be made by all those who have been entrusted with this responsibility for ensuring that this basic need of the large number of people who use this road every day, is met without any delay.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email