Editor,
The sorry state of affairs of the approximately 10-kilometre road connecting Takhniang village to Thadialong-Samatan in West Jaintia Hills District stands today as a glaring example of how development can become the first casualty of political apathy and rivalry. This neglected stretch, falling under the Laskein Development Block, lies precisely between two adjacent constituencies—Nartiang Constituency represented by none other than Mr. Sniawbhalang Dhar and Mowkaiaw Constituency represented by Nujorki Sungoh.
Ironically, this geographical “in-between” status appears to have condemned the road to decades of official neglect. For years, this vital link has been left at the mercy of nature. What should have been a lifeline for poor farmers and daily commuters has instead turned into an obstacle course. During medical emergencies, the situation becomes downright inhuman—patients and pregnant women are forced to endure dangerous and delayed journeys, often at great personal risk, simply because the road is not motorable. More importantly, this road serves as one of the main lifelines for the people of Elaka Shiliangmyntang and Mukroh, particularly during times when emergency boundary disputes arise, making its condition not just a developmental concern but a serious matter of public safety and security.
What baffles travellers, particularly those journeying from Shillong towards Barato–Mukroh, is the stark contrast in infrastructure quality. The black-topped roads from Nartiang to Takhniang village on one end and from Shiliangmyntang village to Mukroh on the other are maintained in near-perfect condition. Why, then, has this crucial middle stretch been conveniently abandoned? The question lingers, unanswered and uncomfortable. Among local residents, a widely held belief persists: that this road has become a victim of political one-upmanship, a silent battleground where ego and influence matter more than public welfare. Reliable sources indicate that this very stretch was mentioned in the 2023–24 Budget Speech in the August House, with assurances from Prestone Tynsong, the Minister in-Charge, PWD (Roads), that the road would be metalled and blacktopped. Yet, for reasons best known to the authorities, those assurances remain trapped on paper.
With the forthcoming Budget Session now just one month away, this is an opportune and crucial moment for the government to re-include this long-neglected road and accord it the highest priority for sanction and execution. The people of this region can ill afford another budgetary cycle of promises without delivery. Meanwhile, due to deplorable condition of this road, people continue to pay a heavy price. Vehicles frequently break down, transport costs rise, and livelihoods suffer—all because a sanctioned promise has not translated into action. We urge Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma to immediately intervene on this issue. With the next General Election round the corner, we urge our political leaders to bury the hatchet, rise above constituency boundaries, and finally sanction and complete this long overdue road. If ignored any longer, this stretch will not just remain a road in ruins—it will become one of the hottest electoral issues in the region.
Yours etc.,
HT Wells (A Concerned Citizen)
Shillong
Trade Licences by Exclusion are Unconstitutional: KHADC’S Policy Defies Law, Logic, & Lived Reality
Editor,
This refers to the news report titled “New trade licences only in areas without Khasi residents: KHADC.” The statement attributed to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) raises serious constitutional, legal, and practical concerns that deserve public scrutiny.
India’s Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to livelihood and occupation under Article 19(1)(g), of the Constitution of India. It guarantees every citizen the fundamental right to practise any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law, not by administrative discretion or ethnic classification. No Autonomous District Council, constituted under the Sixth Schedule, has the authority to override, dilute, or selectively suspend fundamental rights
It is important to underline that Autonomous District Councils function within the framework of the Constitution, not above it. Protection of indigenous interests cannot come at the cost of denying fundamental rights to other law-abiding citizens who have lived, worked, and contributed to the local economy for decades.
The claim that a trading licence can be cancelled merely because a local person later wishes to undertake the same business is also misleading and legally incorrect. Once a trade licence is validly issued after due verification, it cannot be revoked unless the trader violates the law, licence conditions, or engages in illegal activities. Any other interpretation would amount to administrative excess and uncertainty, discouraging lawful enterprise.
Ironically, such restrictive policies may encourage benami businesses, where licences are taken in tribal names but operated by another, defeating transparency, regulation, and revenue collection. This neither protects local interests nor strengthens governance—it only pushes economic activity into grey areas.
Non-tribal citizens are not outsiders to the Constitution. Many are second- or third-generation residents of Meghalaya, contributing to employment, taxes, and social harmony. Policies should aim for coexistence and fairness, not exclusion and uncertainty.
A balanced approach—based on legality, equal opportunity, and economic cooperation—is the need of the hour. Any policy that conflicts with constitutional guarantees must be reviewed in the larger interest of justice and national integrity.
Yours etc.,
Homnath Gautam
Shillong-2
Why the correct spelling of La-Chaumiere” is important
Editor,
Apropos of the news “Dorbar clears air on official spelling of Lachaumiere” (ST 24, January 2026), the Dorbar Shnong has taken a correct decision on the inaccuracies of the spelling of the locality that dilutes the historical and cultural significance of the locality. “La Chaumière” is a French word that literally means “the thatched cottage” or “the rustic hut.” La → “The” (definite article in French). Chaumière → A small rural house, traditionally with a thatched roof. It evokes simplicity, coziness, and countryside charm. In French culture, chaumière symbolizes pastoral beauty, rustic simplicity, and homely warmth. When used as a name like (La Chaumière House in Shillong), it suggests a heritage property with quaint, old-world charm, designed to feel welcoming and serene—like a cottage retreat and by extension, it conveys a sense of rustic elegance and peaceful living.
Why was a French name like La-Chaumière chosen for a property in Shillong? The word evokes rustic simplicity and pastoral beauty. For a hill-station like Shillong, surrounded by pine forests and rolling hills, the name fits perfectly suggesting a peaceful retreat in nature. La Chaumière House – the “rustic hut” was once the Nawab of Dacca’s estate (East Bengal) built in the 1880s and later a British hotel known as Holders Hotel in the days of the Raj. Post-Independence (1950s) the house was acquired by Shiva Prasad Sharma and Anjali Devi Sharma, an Assamese couple from Guwahati. They refurbished the property while retaining its heritage charm. The house continues to operate as a heritage guesthouse, blending colonial architecture with Assamese-style annexes. It remains in the family’s care, preserving its legacy as one of Shillong’s oldest heritage homes.
Yours etc;
VK Lyngdoh,
Via email
