Editor,
How does a newly registered inexperienced firm, that perhaps is still tottering on its feet to find traction in contract works, suddenly manage to land for itself projects worth Rs 1900 crores, in a highly technical sector such as the PHE? Or should the question be framed differently? Is it this style of awarding PHE contracts to completely novice and inexperienced contractors the real cause for the failure of most water supply schemes in the State? I am referring to the Headline Front page news that appeared in the May 18th edition of The Shillong Times. As stakeholders and citizens who have borne the trauma of watching newly laid PHE schemes that stubbornly refuse to even yield a drop of water; as villagers who had watched in horror their traditional water sources dry up due to PHE interventions; as a people who are fed up with the apathy, indifference and unprofessional attitude of this department , we demand answers on this latest scam that has emerged from the bowels of the PHE.
One thing is absolutely clear – contracts worth Rs 1900 crore to an untried, untested and inexperienced firm could not have happened without the strong support of a Patron. Whether the Patron is in Shillong or Delhi; whether he is a Politician or a Bureaucrat; whether he is a technocrat within the PHE department does not matter. The need of the hour is the exposure of this Patron so that such corruption is not repeated in the future.
While we the public can only conjecture as to who in the bureaucracy and the political heirarchy has the clout to push through such a major project, the media and the Opposition has a duty and responsibility to ferret out information on what looks like a major PHE scam reminding us of the 1980’s when a similar scam occurred vis a vis the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) which led to the then PHE Minister, Salseng Marak to resign from his post. Just when we thought that the age of major scams is over here comes another one that shocks us out of our wits.
Yours etc.,
Kenny Lyngdoh,
Via email
Concern For Wah Umkhrah: Too Little Too Late
Editor,
The concern expressed by A.L. Hek, MLA regarding the urgent need to protect the Wah Umkhrah River is certainly welcome, though it comes far too late. What was once a pristine waterway has gradually been reduced to little more than an open drain owing to years of governmental neglect and public apathy. Today, the river bears the burden of waste discharged from innumerable commercial establishments and residential units that have mushroomed along its course.
In reality, the Wah Umkhrah can hardly be described as a river anymore. Its banks have virtually vanished, consumed by unchecked encroachments and structures constructed over the years. It may be the only river in the world without a river bank. Reckless urbanization, fuelled by human greed and compounded by administrative inaction has pushed the river into its present deplorable condition.
The restoration and rejuvenation of the Wah Umkhrah will demand firm administrative resolve, stringent legal action and sustained public participation. Environmentalists, civic bodies and ordinary citizens must work together if the river is to be revived. Without concrete and decisive intervention by the Government, expressions of concern will remain confined to paper, serving only as reminders of what has been lost. One can only hope the Government is truly listening this time.
Yours etc.,
D. Bhattacharjee
Shillong-1
Collecting Fuel From An Overturned Tanker Hazardous & Irresponsible
Editor,
Following the recent accident on May 18, 2026 in Puriang, East Khasi Hills, where a massive fuel tanker heading toward Jaintia hills overturned on a sharp uphill mountain curve, people started collecting fuel from the accident scene. In fact people have a habit of collecting things from an accident scene instead of trying to help. On May 18, many people rushed to scoop up the leaking liquid thinking it was free petrol. To anyone checking the spilled fuel at the scene, it seems perfectly fine because it has a very sharp smell and passes the standard “evaporation test” vanishing quickly from your vehicle’s frame and leaving a completely clean mark without any oily residue. However, this cargo is actually bulk industrial ethanol on its way to a major supply depot. Under India’s national fuel laws, tankers move massive loads of pure ethanol from distilleries every day, and to stop people from using this industrial alcohol or illegally treating it to resell as drinking liquor, transport rules require the factory to “denature” it by mixing a tiny amount of regular petrol directly into the tank at the source to make it completely toxic.
Because it has that bit of petrol mixed in, it smells and evaporates just like regular fuel, but structurally it remains almost entirely raw ethanol. To be safely used in a normal vehicle, it must first be precision-blended at an official oil company depot down to a safe ratio like the standard E20 fuel (20% ethanol, 80% petrol) found at regular retail petrol pumps. Standard vehicle engines are strictly designed to burn petrol and simply cannot run on raw, unmixed industrial alcohol. When a standard carburetor or fuel injector absorbs this unblended road fuel, the engine instantly floods, the spark plug fails to ignite properly, and the vehicle shuts down.
Furthermore, raw ethanol acts like a sponge for moisture, meaning the moment it spilled all over the dirt road and wet bitumen, it aggressively sucked up mud and road water, which now sits at the bottom of a vehicle’s tank and chokes the fuel lines. If a person puts this spilled fuel into his tank and that person’s vehicle stops working, he should stop trying to start it immediately so that he doesn’t’ pull more water or raw ethanol into the engine. Instead the person should take the vehicle to a garage and tell the mechanic there that the tank contains unblended road ethanol. The mechanic will simply drain that tank completely, flush the fuel lines, and dry or replace the fouled spark plug. Once the system is totally clear and refilled with regular petrol from a proper fuel station pump that vehicle will start right back up and run perfectly normally.
In conclusion, I would request everyone to be aware about crowding around an overturned fuel tanker to collect spilled liquids. This is a very dangerous gamble with life, as raw denatured ethanol or petrol is highly volatile and a single accidental spark could trigger a catastrophic explosion. As citizens, it is vital to act responsibly, prioritize personal safety over free fuel, and leave accident scenes clear for emergency responders. While we can look at today’s incident with immense relief that no tragic news or casualties occurred, it serves as a stark warning. Next time, the outcome could be devastating, and no amount of salvaged fuel is ever worth risking our lives for. Be safe be responsible.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Via email
