Umroi Airport Saga: A tale of neglect, incompetence & missed opportunities
Editor,
The Shillong (Umroi) airport in Meghalaya stands as a stark reminder of how political intrigue, bureaucratic inertia, and a lack of foresight can stifle progress and leave communities underserved. For half a century, this airport has been held hostage by a tangled web of conflicting interests, leaving Meghalaya lagging behind its Northeastern counterparts in connectivity and development.
The story begins with a seemingly well-intentioned plan: expanding the airport to accommodate larger aircrafts and bringing Meghalaya closer to the national network to unlock its tourism potential. Yet, the process has been marred by questionable decisions, opaque dealings, and a blatant disregard for public good.
The acquisition of land in 2008-09, without a prior feasibility study, raises serious questions. Was there a deliberate attempt to bypass due diligence and secure land for speculative purposes? The government’s justification for acquiring land before conducting a feasibility study is simply untenable, especially when the cost of removing obstacles is now estimated to be a staggering Rs 7,000-8,000 crore. This gross negligence has cost the public dearly, both financially and in terms of lost opportunities.
The recent pronouncements, stating that the airport is not feasible for larger aircraft, further deepens the mystery. Is this a sudden realisation, or has the government or any concerned authority been aware of these limitations all along? The timing of this revelation, after years of land acquisition and a considerable public investment, only adds to the suspicion of a hidden agenda.
The ongoing debate regarding the potential for a new Greenfield airport further complicates the situation. Is this a genuine exploration of alternatives, or a ploy to justify further land acquisition and potentially enrich those in power?
This saga is not simply about an airport; it is about the systemic corruption and inefficiency that plagues Meghalaya. The State Government has failed to prioritise the needs of its people and has instead allowed vested interests to dictate policy, leaving development in limbo.
The Hon’ble Meghalaya High Court’s recent ruling on the feasibility of mid-size aircraft landing at Umroi airport is a welcome breath of fresh air for the state’s development. The court’s sound reasoning, based on the successful operation of Paro International Airport in Bhutan, dismantles the long-standing excuses used to justify the airport’s under-utilisation.
For years, the mountainous terrain surrounding Umroi has been cited as an obstacle to expansion. However, the court’s observation that Paro, situated at a significantly higher altitude and with a far more limited optical surface, successfully operates international flights, is a powerful argument for Umroi’s potential. This isn’t just a matter of technical feasibility; it’s about a mindset shift, a rejection of limiting beliefs that have held back Meghalaya’s progress.
The court’s suggestion for hopping flights from major cities is a visionary move that can unlock the state’s tourism potential. Increased connectivity will not only boost tourism revenue but also create much-needed employment opportunities for the people of Meghalaya.
Hence, we urge the state government and the Airports Authority of India to seize this opportunity and implement the court’s recommendations swiftly. The time for excuses is over. The people of Meghalaya deserve a functional, well-connected airport that facilitates growth and prosperity. It is time for the authority concerned to shed its cloak of secrecy, address the concerns raised, and prioritise the long-term interests of the state over short-term gains.
Let’s make the Shillong (Umroi) Airport the gateway to a flourishing future for Meghalaya.
Yours etc.,
Chanmiki Laloo
Shillong-02
Broken Trust: How MPSC’s Examination Errors Shattered Fairness
Editor,
We gained crucial information after the Khasi Students’ Union demand to make the MCS preliminary marks public was met. The cut-off marks for different categories for the MCS Preliminary Examination as notified by the MPSC are as follows: UR = 112, KJ = 92, Garo = 84, and OST/SC = 86. After the marks for the MCS Preliminary Examination were made public, there were 17 Candidates that no longer secured the cut-off marks after the reassessment of Paper 1. Among these, some candidates received marks of 78, 80, and 82.
Additionally, 23 Candidates secured below 92 marks after reassessment. Since their category is not yet known, we cannot assume they met the cut-off. The MPSC released an additional list of successful candidates after 7 months, stating that they applied the doctrine of equality following a reassessment due to errors in the answer key. However, they failed to omit or disqualify candidates who no longer secured the cut-off marks after the reassessment. Now we understand why the MPSC was adamant about not releasing the marks.
It is now apparent that, since no disqualification was made from the first list, the MPSC intends to allow these candidates to write the Mains examination despite failing to reach the cut-off marks, which is illegal, treacherous, and unethical.
These are based on facts, not propaganda. Those who try to defend the MPSC tooth and nail, despite all its limitations and shortcomings, whether intentionally or not, show a lack of integrity. The first list is rendered invalid when candidates who failed to meet the required cut-off marks are still included. The result is irreparably tainted, unreliable and the overall examination process questionable.
Yours etc.,
K. Rynjah
Shillong
Case of organised crime at RG Kar Hospital
Editor,
The murder of the intern doctor at RG Kar Hospital reminds me of the murder of Kong Iohbianghun Sahkhar, Assistant Manager, Orchid Hotel Polo, in June 2019. Her body was thrown in the forest at Umbir, near Umiam Lake. Kong Sahkhar was trying to expose corruption in the MTDC and a flourishing sex racket involving higher ups in the organisation. We are unaware if justice has been delivered in the case of Kong Sahkhar. The incident at RG Kar is not simply a rape case or a case of women not being safe or of health workers not being safe. If we use the incident to highlight women’s safety or health workers’ plight, we have missed the awful truth. It was an organised crime, and an intentional and vengeful murder of a person, not because she was a woman or a health worker, but because it was a centre of organised crime. That’s why it reminds me of the murder of Kong Iohbianghun Sahkhar, whose death seemed intentional, calculated and vengeful. We cannot protect women without understanding that crime syndicates exist in this country like satanic tentacles that involve well connected people in positions of power. This is why justice is denied many times. Awareness is the first step towards protecting women. It is high time normal people, including working women, are armed because no one can protect us from these organised criminals.
Yours etc.,
Amia Kharthomi,
Shillong