Editor,
I am usually never drawn into responding to the writings in the Editorial Page, but of late I have done so because I believe in the ”Duty of Care” that all of us should have for the exploited, the deceived and the cheated in society.
Patricia Mukhim’s – Election 2023: The results will be blowing in the fierce February winds (ST January 6, 2023) made me reflect on how low people in governance have fallen. I had written my response, but never posted it. I then read her article: Who will lift Meghalaya from the dumps (ST January 13, 2023) and it moved me greatly. It prompted me to write this letter. How hard hearted and indifferent is the government! Yet they trumpet their fallacious achievements through fancy and expensive fanfare making sure the Press adds colour and hype!
Let me focus on: Elections 2023.
Strangely, all the questions raised struck a chord in me deeply. And I would like to draw in all NGOs, Social groups, Associations and even Church organisations to expose the malfeasance of the government. We seem to have so many associations that claim ‘they care!’ Let all now put their shoulders to the wheel and challenge the government. Work for the people with genuineness of heart and mind. Shame the corrupt politicians, bureaucrats, autocrats, technocrats and all who siphon off funds for themselves! I know – ”their hearts” don’t ”pain at the sight of such struggles.” And their conscience is never pricked. However, they will be judged and I can well imagine how they will go out!
And in the second write-up, the word ‘dumps’ caught my attention. What a tragedy that character and moral fibre has been lost in the very politicians we voted! Will we the electorate continue to vote for narcissistic pelf parties and underhand dealing agents? I shake my head in disbelief over the exposure brought out and wonder if Meghalaya can ever be retrieved from the ‘dumps’! This word is so apt! It truly punches me in the face.
Do we have powerful cleaning agents for the dumps? Do we have reliable and solid machinery to do the work of emptying the dumps? Do we have genuine spare parts for repairing the engines that fail? And above all do we have persons with the strength of character to drive such heavy-duty machines?
Yours etc.,
Kevin Phillips
Shillong – 19
Narrow lanes obstruct fire tenders
Editor,
On the ill-fated evening of January 10, all of a sudden panic gripped the residents of Mawbah when a massive fire broke out in one of the four storied buildings in a compound and people witnessed the fury of the raging fire engulfing the rooftop homes one by one and devastating every object in its path. Massive flames erupted and lighted up the sky in fury. This was followed by the blast of a series of cylinders which added to the raging fire making it more destructive as it consumed everything in its path. The residents looked on helplessly from a distance and watched their belongings and life’s earnings engulfed by the fire. They could only weep in misery at their fates and lament their losses.
As soon as the news of the fire incident spread I hastily headed to my terrace from where the fire was clearly visible and then ran downstairs and proceeded towards the spot where the furious flames were consuming the building. On the way to the spot I witnessed that the fire tenders were already on their way but they were obstructions that prevented them from reaching speedily to render help. The lanes to the scene of fire were very narrow for the fire tenders to negotiate. Over and above that there was traffic congestion caused by roadside parking. The road was only cleared after 10-15 minutes. But these 15 minutes were precious and most crucial and could have made a lot of difference; lives could have been saved.
In this area it has been pointed out time and again that roadside parking of cars and two wheelers causes horrific congestion but no one really cares. This in fact slowed down the movement of the fire brigades resulting in the ongoing fire which caused the loss of lives of two innocent children besides loss of property. In hindsight, the lives could have been saved if the congestion caused by the roadside parking had not hindered the easy passage of fire tenders since each second matters in such emergencies.
Roadside parking is the bane of Mawbah,Mawprem and Jhalupara which people take as a right and privilege. Vehicle owners recklessly park their vehicles anywhere they want, irrespective of the inconvenience created for the movement of other vehicles. The lanes of these areas are so narrow to let even car pass at a time. In fact some spots have vehicles which have not been used for months together and have turned brown due to accumulation of dust in them but the space has been freely and permanently occupied by the vehicle owners, paying zero as parking fees.
I sincerely request the concerned authorities to kindly look into this matter so that another similar misadventure does not happen any time in the future due to obstruction of movement of traffic and timely arrival of emergency services is rendered futile.
The deceased cannot be brought back to life but at least a few steps and actions would not prevent a similar disaster from being repeated.
Yours etc.,
Manish Kr.Chaudhary
Shillong -2