Editor,
Vehicular traffic is a global concern and not just in Shillong. Rising economic activities and its impact on people is increasing their purchasing power for vehicles. Almost every day a letter appears in this paper talking about the traffic woes in Shillong. However, nothing substantial has been done to ease the traffic congestion. The State Government should have enacted laws in the late 1990s to control vehicle purchase and registration. But successive Governments were not far sighted and did not handle the situation which is now leading to chaos and discomfort to the public. Though the numbers of private vehicles is rapidly growing in Shillong, so are the commercial vehicles. However, private cars and others do not circulate in the city all day long unlike the commercial mini trucks, buses, taxis etc. These commercial vehicles criss-cross the city for 12-15 hours in a day and are the primary and leading reason for traffic congestion. Permits for commercial vehicles are issued without taking into account the capacity of the roads in Shillong and for the purpose of revenue generation. Corruption is rampant in the Transport Department. No solid regulatory authority has been set up to responsibly manage the traffic system which is left only to the police. It is still not too late now to control vehicular population in the city by enacting laws so that the general public feels that they are living in a hill station and not in a slum city.
Yours etc.,
Dr H.S. Ranhotra,
Shillong
The most honest place on Earth
Editor,
This is something that came on the spur of the moment and which I thought I should share with readers of the Shillong Times in these columns of Letter to the Editor. It’s here, in these columns, that most of us love to share our sense of achievements, joy , happiness, whatever with the world around us. Most times however these columns are where we express our anger at what is happening to our society. Mostly at the sense of outrage we have against people, institutions or places in and around us and actions or deeds that we believe adversely affect us and our loved ones around us. In recent times its mostly about our wayward leaders; our politicians; the glaring accumulation of wealth openly amassed at the cost of the common people or the state itself; at the absence of governance and development. With this also comes that deep sense of grievance of having been cheated, tricked and conned by and from people we expected better.
Well this time, I thought enough of that. So this is not about politics, religion, accumulating wealth, or for want of better governance. It’s also not about being charitable, about being a good human being, being nice to people or being liked and respected in life. It’s nothing about these things that trouble our thoughts while we live life on earth. It’s about something else. It’s about something we always moan about not being there any longer. We always love to associate the faith we believe in, our culture and tradition with something we feel is no longer there with us. It’s about honesty. It’s about being told the truth. It’s about people who give you facts as they are, warts and all. About a place where people just can’t afford to tell you anything else but the truth. So does such a place exist here on earth? Are there still people around capable of this desired quality? If so, where and how does one come across such delightful, sincere, frank, honest citizens? Where indeed?
Sorry its none of the above. Instead it’s in a place run and managed by people who can’t afford to tell you anything else but the truth! So is it a Church, a Temple, A Mosque, a holy place of worship run by priests and those who claim they are ordained by God? Sorry! Wrong number but don’t be in a tearing hurry to visit the place I have in mind. I am confident and quite sure that it’s the last place any one of you would want to be in, for this place I am talking about is a Hospital! You’re admitted into one and especially if you are in a really critical condition caused especially by over-indulgence of bad habits , the doctors who treat you have no other choice but to tell you the hard facts of life. Unlike loved ones, family or friends there is no coaxing or sweetening of facts in this place. You’re told the bitter truth about yourself, how you are the main culprit for the state you are in and of the unpleasant consequences you are likely to bear and carry to your grave. Doctors can be friendly, smiling and courteous to a fault but they can be honestly brutal with facts when they need to. For them and their patients under such circumstances, Honesty is the best Policy! Yes a hospital is where an abundance of truth still exists!
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Via email
Drug menace in the city
Editor,
It was a great move by the Shillong Cantonment Board to demolish the illegal housings in Jhalupara recently. However, what’s more concerning is the prevalence of drug addicts in the area. On August 16, I happened to visit the area and what I witnessed was two guys injecting themselves with drugs. They were sharing the same syringe which was even more horrifying.
I have a humble request to the Police Narcotics team and other concerned NGOs to look into the matter. The area will emerge as a breeding ground for drug addicts if timely action is not taken.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request.
Via email.