Editor,
I am tempted to write this letter to you with the hope that this message that I want to convey is picked up by our Forest Department and the interested stakeholders in our state who own vast tracks of land or sufficient plots of land in Ri Bhoi, Ri Lyngngam and Garo Hills who can take up plantation of Agar trees (Aquilaria laccensis) plantations which are suitable and have very high commercial value for medicines and perfumes. The Agar tree demands very low inputs and management for growth and has a short gestation period. Moreover, these species are quite suitable even for intercropping adaptation.
Agar wood is very valuable and farmers or growers can make Agar chips or can extract Agar oil which are in great demand internationally, especially from the Gulf countries, USA and the European nations. Saplings or seeds can be obtained easily from Tripura where these varieties are grown extensively and many Agar tree nurseries are kept and maintained properly. The state is exporting Agar wood products in terms of thousands of crores of rupees yearly. In fact, this financial year, Tripura expects to export Agar products to the tune of Rs 2000 crore.
In Meghalaya these types of species were found in the wilds in Ri Lyngngam and Garo Hills in the early 1940s,1950s and 1960s but not widely, only in some pockets. Later they are nowhere are to be found. The Forest Department of Meghalaya is very well aware of the economic potentials of this species but even after 50 years the Department has not taken up plantation of this valuable tree species in a big way, except perhaps, by raising insignificant nurseries which have now disappeared. During the Chief Ministership of Dr Mukul Sangma, Agar tree plantations in few pockets of Garo Hills were undertaken but now there are no reports from the Forest Department and from the few beneficiaries of the good initiative undertaken as to what has happened to the plantations. If the initiative had been taken seriously, by now, Garo Hills would have been brimming with hope to see beautiful moderate height of Agar tree plantations and would have perhaps harvested the precious oil by now.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Sr.Journalist,
Shillong-2
Rampaging dogs in Laitumkhrah
Editor,
I am an eleven-year-old boy and I was bitten by one of the dogs in Laitumkhrah about two months ago. I was bitten in St. Anthony’s school basketball court. It was during the athletics testing. While I was roaming around a big dog came and bit me. After that he tried to bite another kid but luckily, he was holding a water bottle and he bit that instead. There was an ambulance nearby and it took me to the closest hospital. When I was in the hospital, I had to take six injections for Rabies; four in my hand around the wound, one in my shoulder and one in my thigh. It was the most painful experience in my life. From then on, I have a phobia for dogs. I love dogs and I have a huge one of my own but it’s too dangerous for packs of dogs to go and bite people in Laitumkhrah, especially kids. I have a martial arts class in Laitumkhrah and every Tuesday and Friday I have to risk getting bitten by a dog. I certainly don’t want children like me experiencing pain like I did. I understand that dogs are also living beings and want to have a happy life, but we can’t just keep getting bitten by dogs. I suggest you can make a re-inhabitation training camp and train the alpha male of the pack because every pack has an alpha male and if the alpha male bites, then so will the other dogs. After you change their habits, they can be set free or be adopted.
Yours etc.,
Kian Peter Pde
Upper Shillong
BJP’s tall claims!
Editor,
Apropos of the news headline, “BJP to contest all 60 seats in 2023” (ST Oct 12, 2022), having read the contents of the report I think there is nothing wrong in tweaking the Government of India schemes as long as it serves the people who benefit from it. The Meghalaya BJP President is not aware that the Modi Sarkar has repackaged 23 UPA Schemes which are working better now. It is fine that the BJP will contest all the 60 seats in 2023 but given the manner in which the Party worked for the past 29 years In Meghalaya it is pathetic. This can be gauged from the performance of the BJP in the last 6 Assembly elections. In 1993 the BJP contested 20 seats and achieved zero, in 1998 it contested 28 seats and won 3, in 2003 it contested 28 seats and won 2, in 2008 it contested 23 seats and won 1, in 2013 it contested 13 and achieved zero and in 2018 it contested 47 seats and won 2 seats. These were urban seats. The forfeited deposit rate was 70%, 71%, 75%, 91%, 100% and 68 % respectively in the last six Assembly Election to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
Yours etc.
Gordon Wahlang,
Via email
Foundation stone spree
Editor,
The MDA Government is on a foundation stone laying spree and in some places these are being re-laid again due to obvious reasons of claiming credit. From distributing unaccounted for funds in the name of FOCUS which has lost its actual impact and but is only a trick to “bribe” voters to inaugurating of piggery schemes where most pigs have either died or been sold off since there has been no accountability or proper application of mind. Now even promises of developing roads rebuilding schools etc., are all aimed at gaining brownie points for the 2023 elections. The question is why are funds for the MLA scheme and other government schemes suddenly being doled out at the fag end of this NPP led-government. Do people require doles once in five years only? Do schools require repairs once in five years and do hospitals require just cosmetic surgery in anticipation of elections? Do piggery or poultry schemes come once in a blue moon? Let the voters judge for themselves whether they can be fooled by such political patronage and what change they expect in 2023.
Yours etc..
Dominic Stadlin Wankhar
Via email