Editor,
Digital transformation is no longer a luxury or a competitive advantage—it has become a necessity for every sector, including infrastructure. In Meghalaya, where infrastructure has traditionally meant roads, bridges, water supply, and electricity, a new era is unfolding. These systems are now becoming smarter, more interconnected, and driven by digital innovation.
From building climate-resilient towns to improving connectivity across remote hilly regions, technology is playing a central role in Meghalaya’s sustainable and inclusive development. Infrastructure upgrades are now being powered by systems that collect and analyze data in real time, leading to better planning and delivery of essential services—be it water supply, electricity, traffic control, or even healthcare.
Digital tools such as sensors, smart grids, and live tracking systems are helping tackle day-to-day challenges like traffic congestion, power management, waste disposal, and public safety. The goal is to create cleaner, safer, and more efficient towns and villages.
Cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), Machine Learning (ML), and Data Analytics are equipping planners and administrators with tools to make faster, smarter decisions. These technologies offer new solutions grounded in real-time insights, making governance more responsive and future-ready.
Cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru have already adopted AI-based traffic management systems and public transport apps like BEST Chalo, which allow commuters to track buses and purchase tickets online. Such innovations could be adapted to Shillong and other urban centres in Meghalaya to ease daily commute and enhance public convenience.
AI is also transforming how infrastructure is designed and built. Engineers can simulate multiple models digitally to identify the most efficient and cost-effective options. In construction, robotics and drones are expediting projects while improving safety.
However, bringing this digital revolution to every part of Meghalaya is not without challenges. It demands significant investment and a workforce skilled in digital tools and platforms. Therefore, promoting digital education and capacity-building initiatives is essential.
Moreover, true digital transformation must be inclusive. Every citizen—whether in Shillong or a remote village in the Khasi, Jaintia or Garo Hills—deserves equal access to these digital advancements. Only through inclusive access can the full potential of this transformation be realized, ensuring that no community is left behind.
Yours etc.,
Shakeel Rafee Swer,
Via email
Iran’s nuclear capability not demolished
Editor,
The news reports “Iran-Israel ceasefire offers hope for lasting peace” (ST, June 26, 2025) made interesting reading. Tom Cooper an Austrian military historian and aerial warfare analyst, widely recognized for his deep expertise in Middle Eastern, African, and South Asian conflicts who has authored over 50 books and 1,000 articles, focusing on lesser-known air forces and regional wars—from the Arab-Israeli conflicts to the Iran-Iraq War and more recent engagements like the war in Ukraine, argues that the US strike on Iran;s nuclear facilities came too late to be strategically effective.
Known for his sharp, often contrarian takes, Tom Cooper’s work often challenges official narratives, making him a go-to voice for independent military assessments. According to Tom Cooper’s assessment the US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities came too late – a sharp critique of both timing and strategic efficacy. He argued that Iran had already evacuated the Fordow site and removed enriched uranium and key equipment days before the attack, even going so far as to bury the entrances with tons of gravel. In essence, the U.S. may have hit hardened concrete and empty tunnels, not Iran’s nuclear capability. From the strategic lens, this raises two key implications:
1. Operation Midnight Hammer, was reportedly the largest B-2 bomber deployment in history, involving over 125 aircraft and 75 precision-guided weapons costing between $120 million to $170 million. Yet, if Iran had already anticipated the strike, it suggests either a leak in operational secrecy or that Tehran’s counter-intelligence and satellite monitoring were highly effective.
2. Cooper’s critique implies that the strike may have been more about signalling resolve than achieving a decisive military objective. If the goal was to halt enrichment, the operation may have failed tactically—even if it succeeded in demonstrating U.S. willingness to act.
This also ties into a broader strategic dilemma: you can bomb facilities, but not knowledge. Iran’s nuclear expertise is dispersed, resilient, and—if it exits the NPT—potentially untraceable. That’s the real deterrence challenge now. Trump’s claim of “monumental damage” to Iran’s nuclear program stands more as a strategic narrative than a confirmed operational fact. While he described the strikes as a “bullseye” and declared that Iran’s enrichment capacity was “completely and totally obliterated”, multiple assessments—including from military analysts like Tom Cooper—suggest a more nuanced reality. Cooper noted that Iran had already evacuated the Fordow facility and buried its entrances days before the attack. Satellite imagery and intelligence reports indicate that while structural damage was significant, Iran’s most valuable assets—enriched uranium and key equipment—were likely moved beforehand.
Even U.S. officials have struck a more cautious tone. General Dan Caine confirmed “severe damage” but stopped short of declaring total destruction. The International Atomic Energy Agency also reported no radiation leaks, implying that the core nuclear material may not have been hit. So, Trump’s statement functions more as a political drama with a lot of heat signaling nothing. It’s a bold yet confusing message to allies and adversaries alike—but one that may not fully align with the operational outcomes on the ground.
Yours etc;
VK Lyngdoh,
Via email
Meghalaya stigmatised for an isolated incident
Editor,
The recent travel advisory by the United States directing its officials in India and other travellers to stay away from certain areas in India such as Meghalaya in the North East, among others has hurt the sentiments of the people of the country and of Meghalaya as well. Why pick on Meghalaya? There appears to be a hidden agenda behind the whole idea of defaming the image of the North Eastern region and some parts of India which is uncalled for.Any untoward incident can take place anywhere in the world but that does not at all mean that such a place should be tagged as unsafe for tourists. Meghalaya is widely known for its age old hospitality towards tourists hence the travel advisory looks like an ulterior motive to tarnish the clean image of Meghalaya.We strongly oppose the recent US travel advisory and the undue amplification of the narratives by a section of the media.
Yours etc.,
Deepak Chhetry,
Tura