Editor,
Apropos of the letter ‘Decrepit – Accident Prone Highway’ by Omarka Laloo (ST October 26, 2021), I would like to add some of my points which I think are relevant to the present condition of the so- called National Highway 6. For the first time as a regular commuter between Shillong and Jowai and for the past four decades of my life I have never seen such a road (if one can call it a road at all) and I think it is one of the worst highways in India. The road is full of potholes, dangerous potholes that have recently caused an accident to a fine young man while trying to avoid the holes while on his way to Shillong on a two-wheeler. Not only that but the road is pathetic also risky and very uncomfortable for older people, pregnant women, and for those with back pain and other health conditions. Throughout the summer or monsoon season one can even fish from the ditches that are full of water pools whenever there is a traffic jam.
This is due to the fact that trucks with load of 30 to 40 metric tonnes are plying through this road on a regular basis. This includes coal-laden trucks, cement loaded trucks and other big trucks of more than 24 tyres carrying huge grills, iron, tankers, etc. to Silchar/ Aizawl and Agartala. It is high time that these trucks should ply through Assam (Karbi Anglong) and not pass through Meghalaya. Crores of rupees are spent every year for repairing these roads and it is seen that the carpeting is only half an inch thick which hardly lasts for 6 – 8 months . The whole stretch of this road right from Khliehriat to Shillong should be cemented (about 2 feet of thickness) so that no repairing work is required for the next 10 years. Also there is need to put a stop to the corruption by unscrupulous PWD Engineers and contractors who are minting crores of rupees from these highways every year.
We have more than 10 cement factories that are producing over 5000 metric tonnes of cement per factory per day. Where is the 2% money from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) deposited by these cement factories to the government for the last 10 years which will be more than Rs. 5000 crores. Where has this money gone? I believe the public deserve to know! Each factory can supply to the Government (through CSR money) about 50,000 to 1,00,000 metric tonnes of cement for the purpose of road construction. The work should be done by NHAI, Government of India enterprises, not by State PWD, then one can see the difference in quality and travel smoothly or comfortably from Khliehriat/ Jowai to Shillong. If this proposal is implemented, all the commuters will thank me for this suggestion.
Yours etc.,
L. Dkhar,
Jowai
MDA needs to tackle corruption
Editor
The MDA coalition at its inception was looked at with doubts and reservations by critics. They questioned how a government with different political parties cobbled together could achieve anything worthwhile when each party had its own objectives and agenda. However, four years down the line this government under the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has been able to prove not just by words but in action as well that it has the political will to try and resolve a lot of pending issues. The inter-state border dispute with Assam or the encroachment of land by Bangladesh or even the law and order matters related to the Sweeper’s Colony in the heart of Shillong are just some of the issues that need a lot of political will translated into action in the process. Sadly, for the past 49 years these issues have not been realistically dealt with by successive governments. These issues were actually used as political propaganda by the Congress Party and by some politicians at the helm of affairs. We hope more action would follow in aspects related to corruption as well, if at all as what was claimed that “Good” Governance was the reason for winning all three seats in the bye-polls.
Yours etc…
Dominic Stadlin Wankhar
Shillong
Don’t frustrate the youth
Editor
Last month, the District Selection Committee of Baghmara conducted the physical test and typing test for the post of Gram Sevak, Soil & Water Conservation demonstrator, LDA etc. This letter is to highlight the poorly conducted physical test. It was mentioned in the admit card that candidates should be present at 5 o’clock in the morning while the concerned authority themselves showed up only past 6 o’clock without having made any prior arrangements for the event . Now my main contention and that of many others as well is that people who had finished second, third and in the first top 20 during the running test, somehow didn’t appear in the recently declared results. Mind you, these people were qualified on every front. They should have been selected for the subsequent test. Instead of bickering among ourselves, I’m writing this to shed some light on how the system or the concerned authorities are failing us, the youth, in providing a just and transparent process. Based on these considerations we feel the Baghmara DSC needs some scrutiny otherwise we will lose all faith in the whole system. We can’t remain silent on what’s happening right in front of our eyes. I’m sure the situation is not unique to only Baghmara DSC.
Those in authority, please understand the helplessness of the youth of Meghalaya!
Yours etc.,
Chanangbil Marak,
Via email
COP26 events and action thereafter
Editor,
The 2021 edition of the United Nations Annual Climate Change Conference began in Glasgow after the end of a meeting of the G20 grouping. The leaders of the G20 nations reached a consensus about fighting climate change. However, the uncompromising stance adopted by several members of the G20 is clearly a signpost to the future. They could not come to a compromise over several issues related to climate change such as ending financing of coal-fired power plants, climate neutrality for domestic economies, domestic use of coal and so on. It is ironic that the G20 countries that account for 75% of the world’s emissions disagree on climate related issues.
The deadlock at the G20 assumes special significance in the light of the ongoing UNFCCC Conference at Glasgow called COP26. The summit keeps alive many hopes related to climate change. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that the pledges signed on by the G20 were insufficient and said that they put the COP summit in jeopardy. While the G20’s commitment to 1.5 degrees Celsius is a good move, lack of specifics makes it uncertain. Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested at the G20 that developed nations should provide 1% of their GDP as finance for green projects in developing economies. He drew attention to the injustice of pressing the developed countries for greater climate ambition without any climate finance.
Against this backdrop, the COP’s focus on climate finance assumes great significance. On the other hand, the failure of the G20 summit to put in efforts to mitigate climate change is not a good sign for COP26. As the G20 fell short of expectations, chances of a breakthrough at the COP summit are very slim.
Yours etc.,
Venu GS,
Kollam