Traffic Management: Putting their best foot forward
18th Mar 2014. A day of wonders as far as Shillong traffic was concerned. Suddenly there were policemen every 10 ft of the entire GS road. Traffic was actually being controlled; policemen blowing their whistles; the cockroaches (Shillong taxis) conscientiously observing traffic rules and showing genuine road sense! Would you believe it? With no illegal parking along the road, vehicles were zooming comfortably by at 40 kmph. An unheard of phenomenon on Shillong roads! People rubbed their eyes; pinched themselves; gawked their eyes out; but the incredible mirage refused to go. We really have Traffic Control. People were impressed, astounded and intrigued. Who said our MLP guys couldn’t deliver? Let’s give our khaki wallas a big hand. They deliver when the need arises.
Cars breezed along from Barik , via MH past the KHADC down Garikhana and up Mawlai Bridge with nary a single stop on the way. Cops actually chased away a red beaconed vehicle from the kerb where it had arrogantly parked itself. The traffic cops seemed to have suddenly developed that long awaited immunity to VIPs. A feeling of wellbeing and commuter satisfaction flooded every driver’s veins. People began to dream. A shocked and surprised lady said, “It’s finally safe to drive on Shillong roads!
Next morning on the 19th, frantic children rushing to school and poor husbands dropping anxious wives to work, woke up to the old Shillong traffic mess. The miracle of the day before had evaporated with the morning mists.
On the 18th the Shillong traffic cops had decided to put their best foot forward. Not for the benefit of the poor Shillongites. Not for the sake of professional pride. Not for commuters, mind you. It was to honour the Nehru-Gandhi scion – Rahul Gandhi who had decided to make a night halt in the city. Muttered a wit, “What can one say except Rahul beta, please do come again soon and more frequently, mo khun”.
Who gave them the license to pollute?
The Umkhrah River gets its place of pride once in a while when people start talking about the dirt and filth that has become the lot of the river.
Worse the river has become a dumping ground for garbage and sewerage. All the houses constructed along the banks of this river (many of them unauthorised) including the controversial Bangladesh colony release their septic tanks directly into the river.
These pictures were taken from Demseiniong, a locality under Laitumkhrah constituency. Who has given all these residents the license to empty their latrines directly into the river? Is there no law to govern them as there are laws for other residents in other parts of the city? Why this special privilege to a section of population? The rule of law indeed is non-existent in Meghalaya!