Editor,
Through the esteemed columns of your daily, I wish to draw urgent attention to the unbearable plight of consumers under the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS), where several localities have been left without water supply for over a week. This is not merely an inconvenience, it is a humanitarian failure. The prolonged disruption has exposed the lackadaisical and indifferent attitude of the Public Health Engineering Department and the Shillong Municipal Board, who have once again shown their true colours.
When drinking water crisis arises especially due to the appointment of inexperienced personnel to head crucial divisions, is it not the sole and mandatory responsibility of the concerned department (PHED) and the Municipal Board to immediately deploy water tankers and ensure supply to RCC tanks across affected localities to tide over the emergency? It is deeply distressing to witness that the government of the day appears least bothered about the suffering of its citizens. Where are the water tanker vehicles when citizens need them the most? Are they meant only to exist on paper and official files? Who will take responsibility for this administrative mess and public hardship? The silence of the authorities is all the more shocking when the city is in the midst of preparations for Christmas, one of the most important festivals for thousands of families in Shillong and the cleaning drive being conducted in various localities.
Denial of access to safe drinking water at such a time reflects a serious moral and governance failure. The public must not remain silent on this burning issue, especially when several crores have been pumped into this project. Democratic accountability demands that citizens speak out, and the concerned Minister should take moral responsibility for this failure and step aside. Governance without accountability only deepens public distrust. I urge the affected people of Shillong not to remain mute spectators but to raise their collective voice until immediate corrective measures are taken. Access to water is not a privilege, it is a basic right.
Yours etc.,
H.T. Wells,
Shillong-2
Why Meghalaya Needs the Protection of Article 371
Editor,
In Meghalaya, discussions have emerged regarding the potential for special constitutional provisions, drawing parallels to Article 371 provisions in other states. The core of this conversation often revolves around safeguarding indigenous rights, land ownership and customary laws, which are legitimate aspirations for the state’s unique cultural landscape.
Article 371(A) for Nagaland, for instance, explicitly protects Naga customary law and procedure, and the ownership and transfer of land and its resources from parliamentary acts, unless the state assembly decides otherwise. This form of robust constitutional asymmetry offers a model for true local autonomy, something the current Sixth Schedule structure has struggled to deliver in practice when faced with national regulations like the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. Empowering our Autonomous District Councils with such definitive powers would ensure that decisions regarding our ancestral lands and traditional economic practices remain with the local communities.
Granting similar tailored provisions to Meghalaya, designed in consultation with the diverse communities could be a significant step toward preserving the unique cultural identities and interests of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo communities. It could support local decision – making and help ensure that development approaches are in harmony with the community’s specific needs and traditions.
While some may express concerns about potential administrative complexities and the adequacy of the current 6th Schedule, a careful, considered and tailored constitutional provision for Meghalaya developed through inclusive dialogue could offer a necessary legal framework to empower the state’s people in shaping their future in accordance with their cherished traditions.
The time is opportune for leaders and stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue and explore constitutional pathways that can truly safeguard ancestral land, resources and the way of life for future generations.
Yours etc.,
Hilarius Umdor,
Shillong -8
Mismanagement of tourist spots in and around Shillong
Editor,
I would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to the growing mismanagement of tourist spots in and around Shillong.
Popular places such as Ward’s Lake, Elephant Falls, and Shillong Peak often suffer from overcrowding, poor cleanliness, lack of proper signage, and inadequate facilities for visitors. Littering, plastic waste, and unregulated vendors have become common sights, which not only inconvenience tourists but also damage the natural beauty of these locations.
Despite Shillong being a major tourist destination, there is little monitoring or maintenance of these sites. The absence of trained guides, proper waste disposal systems, and crowd control measures reflects poor planning and administration.
The Tourism Department should take immediate steps to improve infrastructure, ensure cleanliness, regulate vendors, and promote responsible tourism. Public awareness campaigns can also help visitors respect and protect these spots.
I hope this issue will receive attention through your newspaper and prompt and timely action.
Yours etc.,
Sushmita Ghosh,
Shillong-4
Smoking in public places: A Social concern
Editor,
Through your paper, I want to share my concern about the increasing habit of smoking in public places. We all know there are two kinds of smokers—active smokers who smoke by choice and passive smokers who end up breathing the smoke without wanting to. I am not against anyone who smokes; that is their personal choice. But smoking in public and affecting others is something that really needs attention. Even though many “No Smoking” signs are put up around the city, people hardly seem to care. Authorities also do not take the rules seriously.
Many of us might have faced similar situations. For example, the sidewalk near the entrance of Nazareth Hospital in Shillong is always crowded, yet many attendants smoke there as if it is normal. Some even sit along the roadside, smoking and spitting. The authorities should put up clear signboards and monitor the area properly. A similar thing happened to me recently in a restaurant. There was no smoking area, yet a group of customers at the next table lit their cigarettes and smoked openly. What surprised me more was that the waitress and receptionist did not say anything. I thought of telling them to stop but decided not to, just to avoid an argument. As a non-smoker, the experience was uncomfortable and irritating. People need to understand that there is a proper place and time for everything. I have friends who smoke, but they do it quietly and respectfully. The real issue is not smoking itself, but the lack of discipline in public.
The COTPA Act, 2003, clearly bans smoking in public places and also imposes fines. But unless the law is taken seriously, nothing will change. Smokers may not worry about their own health, but I worry about mine and about the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. I request the authorities and the public to take this issue seriously and act before it becomes an even bigger problem.
Yours etc.,
Gangmei Zeppuh,
Via email
