By Albert Thyrniang
The controversy over the felling of the majestic Cryptomeria trees, commonly known as English pines or ‘Kseh Bilat’ in Khasi, along the Eastern Air Command headquarters at 7th Mile, Upper Shillong will eventually die down. The outrage on social media will be temporary. Even the High Court may find a middle path. In spite of the shock expressed by the Chief Minister, thus initially a setback, the Shillong-Dawki-Tamabil National Highway (SDTNH) will ultimately commence. When the controversy erupted no one offered sound bites but now ministers, former ministers, pressure groups and even some environmentalists are lining up to bat for the 71.5 km four lane highway. All have emphasised on the need for this road for the people of the Southern parts of East Khasi Hills and West/South West Khasi Hills while easing the traffic from 7th Mile to Umshyrpi Bridge. All are converging on the point that the loss of the historic pines and other trees will be compensated via compulsory afforestation.
The eagerness to start and complete the SDTNH in three years is understandable. The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government might be able to showcase only this project among its limited achievements before the next Assembly elections. The government could use this 71.5 km NH as a showpiece. Hence the desperation to complete the road that takes us to the Bangladesh border, in record time! From the Deputy Chief Minister and PWD Minister, Prestone Tynsong, to the Community and Rural Development Minister, Hamletson Dohling to local representatives, all have strongly backed the mega project. Even the Forest and Environment Minister, James Sangma who is supposed to play ‘devil’s advocate’ has painstakingly allayed environmental concerns thus batting for the venture to proceed albeit with collateral damage. The government would like to inaugurate the highway before the 2023 election.
With the uncontrolled illegal mining and transportation, the corruption in the sick and complex MeECL, the damming rock bottom verdict of PGI on education, the recent rice scam, the overall dissatisfaction and absence of any ‘feel good factor’ have dented the image of the present Government the SDTNH could be a trump card of sorts. The Chief Minister may have a litany of achievements but SDTNH could be the most visible presentation to the public. Therefore, the keenness to complete the SDTNH! There is a fear in the government that the SDTNH might be one among incomplete projects. The Congress which initiated it might have the joy of completing it.
The Government may plead that COVID-19 and the lockdowns have played havoc and halted developmental works but it might also use COVID-19 vaccination as a publicised achievement. 100% vaccinations have been declared in some locations/villages though the ground reality might be different. The declared 100% vaccination of eligible citizens in two localities in Zone 3 – Police Bazaar and Keating Road stands disputed. But otherwise it is easy to announce 100% vaccination unchallenged because of the present hesitancy to get the jab. Even if eligible candidates are left out they are not going to come forward publicly. So even if the 100% vaccination claims are taken with a pinch of salt, they are reasonable.
On the PGI rating, certain comments in my last article evoked reactions from a couple of officers in the Education Department and unknown individuals on WhatsApp and email. The article did not play down the role of the Church in educating the masses in Meghalaya. The write-up was not to expound the contribution of the Church in education. A person opined that the Church managed LP schools are slightly better than the government ones. But should the Church be satisfied with this ‘marginally better’ performance? Our private conversation did converge in that the Church should do more particularly in Lower Primary (LP) schools in villages. To my point that school inspectors should visit schools regularly it was brought to the fore that in some districts there are no DSEOs. Their posts lie vacant for long periods of time. Someone is usually given the additional charge to function as a DSEO. In some instances even a principal is given dual charge. It was also pointed out that a couple of DSEOs are busy attending court cases. The end result is that these persons are unable to do justice to either of their duties. In such a scenario the question that arises is – how can double appointees carry out inspection of schools? The answer is obvious but my retorted question is, do DSEOs visit schools even if they do not handle dual charges?
The ‘vacancy’ issue shows the lackadaisical attitude of the Government. Just the other day, a teachers’ organisation asserts that many vacancies are unfilled. The Government’s contention that it accords high priority to education falls flat. Except for the claim of infrastructural improvement and the existence of the Education Policy what are the decisions towards reviving education from its shambles? Infrastructure and a dead policy do no good if the most crucial resource, that is, the personnel are lethargic or are found wanting. The current government may excuse itself saying education has been a non-performing sector for a long time. This may be true but a new government comes in with the promise to undo the failures of the previous dispensation. Has this Government done so? By the time the next election comes will the Government be able to show any outcomes in education?
Kindly refer to the aforementioned point that ministers, politicians, local leaders and NGOs have spoken out for SDTNH. One wishes they do the same for similar projects in rural areas. The two lane Nongstoin-Ranikor road did not get the same support. As a result it was unjustly scrapped due to protests by pressure groups under the pretext that the road was to facilitate uranium mining in the Domiasiat area. Prestone Tynsong who was also a minister in the previous government did not lend his support for the road in the most neglected districts of West and South West Khasi Hills. The present Community and Rural Development Minister, Hamletson Dohling was one of the top KSU leaders, the pressure group that spear-headed the anti-Nongstoin-Ranikor highway. Perhaps, he was against the highway because it does not pass through his constituency. The same might be said of Ronnie V Lyngdoh, Mylliem MDC who has supported SDTNH while, if I am not mistaken, did not speak in favour of the Nongstoin-Ranikor road when he was a state minister. Neither politicians nor NGO leaders paid heed to the assurance that the proposed two lane was not in view of uranium mining. We have only local leaders, no state leaders.
This takes us to the West and South West Khasi Hills MLAs and MDCs at the time. They were cowards with no guts to stand for development. They did not speak out in support of the Nongstoin-Ranikor road. They played safe. They might have even clandestinely supported the protesting pressure groups. They betrayed their own people. If they unitedly and explicitly stood their ground the road would have been a reality. The untold sufferings of the people of the area would have been mitigated to a large extent. Now we have to move at snail’s pace on bumpy, muddy and dusty roads, consuming six hours instead of three hours. If the local public representatives are not in favour of the Nongstoin-Ranikor double lane road, why should ‘outsiders’ bail us out? We can’t expect others to speak for us.
The present MLAs and MDCs from West and South West Khasi Hills too are the same. They have not demanded for revisiting the Nongstoin-Ranikor road. They do not even have a view on it. They do not want to offend the pressure groups. If the concerned MLAs and MDCs who will be benefited by SDTNH want to see its execution, why not the West and South West Khasi Hills counterparts wish the same for Nongstoin-Ranikor road? If the representatives in the two districts make a common petition, certainly the State and Central governments will take notice. If the Government and its ministers are desperate to see the Shillong-Dawki road converted into a four lane highway why not display the same concern for the horrific Nongstoin-Ranikor two-lane project? The mistake in rejecting the two lane Nongstoin-Ranikor road will forever remain a regret.
The FKJGP, Upper Shillong unit has vouched for the four lane road. The Nongstoin-Ranikor road was blocked because local units of pressure groups joined the protest. They were taken for a ride by their parent organisations based elsewhere. If residents of Upper Shillong and Mylliem constituency, Ri-War, Sohra and Shella can fulfil their long-cherished dreams, why deprive the people of West and South West Khasi Hills? Till today South West Khasi Hills travellers touch smooth roads only when they reach Mawphlang on the way to Shillong and Nongstoin town. Anywhere before these two locations it’s a ‘rock-n-roll’ ride. The extreme imbalance in the state will see us languish in the bottom if a PGI is conducted in all sectors.
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