By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Protesting against the inaction on the part of the State Government against the erring police personnel who were involved in the assault on Dr WN Sangma of Chokpot PHC, the Meghalaya Medical Services Association (MMSA) have decided to temporarily abstain from their official duties for two days from Wednesday.

 Stating that its members will refrain from any kind of medical practice during these two days, the Association demanded the government to arrange for alternative arrangements for smooth delivery of health services till they resume duty at 9 am on Friday.

 MMSA general secretary Dr Aman War stated that the Association had pleaded the government for penal action and disciplinary proceedings, including placing the erring police personnel under suspension immediately.

 “But the government has not communicated this basic request to uphold the law following which the members of the MMSA are now forced to protest against what appears to be a deliberate inaction,” Dr War said on Sunday. It may be mentioned that the MMSA had recently sent memoranda to the President and Prime Minister and had forwarded a copy to the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: The breakaway faction of Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC-B) on Sunday asked the two Garo Hills political stalwarts – Chief Minister Dr Mukul M Sangma and NPP leader Purno A Sangma – to work together for the sake of lasting peace in Garo Hills.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, the outfit said, “Their political differences are affecting the growth of Garo Hills,” while adding that the fate of Garo Hills is greatly dependent on the role of these stalwarts of the State’s political scene.

From Our Correspondent

NONGSTOIN: The Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM), West Khasi Hills district unit has issued a stern warning against any violation of Tuesday’s 12-hour bandh, saying that strict action would be taken against anyone who flouts the bandh call.

“We will not tolerate any opposition to the bandh called by us on Tuesday. Even the DC and the SP of the district will not be exempted from the purview of the bandh,” HANM West Khasi Hills president Arphul Kharbani said on Sunday.

The HANM has called the dawn-to-dusk bandh in Khasi and Jaintia Hills after the State Government refused to effect the release of Kodious Thongni, one of their members, who was arrested by Assam Police in connection with the torching of an Assam Police Outpost at Jirang.

Kharbani said that bandh call has a two-pronged objective- one to effect the release of Kodious and second to press the Government for an immediate solution to the border problem of the State.

He also said that no schools, colleges, offices or shops would be allowed to function on the day. All vehicles would be off the roads.

Bandh opposed

The Jowai Traders’ Association (JTA) and the Jaintia Tribal Traders’ Association (JTTA) have strongly opposed the proposed bandh called by the HANM on Tuesday, our Jowai Correspondent adds.

Both the associations have expressed unhappiness over frequent bandhs called by various NGOs that has badly affected the social and economic life of the common people.

“We supports the issues taken up by the HANM and other NGOs in the State but we can’t support all bandh calls,” JTA secretary Rajen Shylla said.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: A rise in the water level at the Umiam reservoir is good news for the State as far as avoiding load shedding at this time of the year is concerned.

The current water level at Umiam stands at 3218.24 feet and the reservoir has a capacity to hold upto 3220 feet of water.

MeECL engineer Elias Lyngdoh informed The Shillong Times that at the moment the State has enough power to meet its requirements. According to Lyngdoh, there is no immediate threat of load shedding but if the water level at the Umiam reservoir comes down drastically, the MeECL would be forced to go for it.

“We are saving water in the reservoir for the dry season,” he added.

Meghalaya has available power resource of over 260 MW including the first and second unit of Myntdu Leshka power project.

However, the first unit of the project is currently down due to technical snags.

To put the power scenario in order, the State Government is also relying on its share of power from the 726 MW Palatana project undertaken by the ONGC along with Tripura Power Corporation (OTPC) which is set to be commissioned this year.

“If Palantana project does not come we may have to go for load shedding,” the MeECL official warned.

Meanwhile, the State also gets a share of around 100 MW from the national as well as the eastern power grid for which it has to pay nearly Rs 21 crore every month.

Reacting to a query on the water from Umiam being pumped to Army establishments in Umroi, the official said that only 1.5 litre of water per second per unit is pumped to the Cantonment whereas the MeECL station requires 7000 litre per second per unit.

It may be mentioned that almost every year, the residents in the State have to bear the brunt of load shedding and students are among the worst affected.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The row over the transfer of the PWD (Roads) official allegedly done at the behest of PWD Minister HDR Lyngdoh refused to die down with village elders under the Nongspung Syiemship and Mawphlang Lyngdohship asking Nongspung legislator JA Lyngdoh, who made the accusation, not to interfere in the affairs of Sohiong constituency.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, the village elders stated that the allegation leveled against HDR is baseless as the PWD Minister had every right to interfere in the construction work of the Mawphlang Sub-Division PWD (Roads) since after delimitation, the area would fall under Sohiong.

It may be mentioned that Social Welfare Minister JA Lyngdoh had alleged that PWD Section Officer Karlenstar Lyngdoh of Mawphlang Sub-Division PWD (Roads) was transferred after HDR was pressurized by a contractor.

The village heads included those from Mawmyrsiang, Wahlang Laitnongrem, Mawkneng, Umtyrniut Wahrahaw Lyndetkhlaw Demthring, Lyngkhoi Mawmayrsiang, Madanbitaw, Mawjongka and Kyndong Wahlang.

Alleging that Nongspung Legislator JA Lyngdoh has failed to live up to the people’s expectations, the village heads called upon the Sohiong legislator to implement a road scheme from Mawphlang Sub-Division PWD (Roads) to Sohiong Sub-Division PWD (Roads).

“Because of the negligence of JA Lyngdoh, we had to walk for hours from one village to another. At the same time, it would be easy for us to go to Sohiong rather than Mawphlang,” the statement said adding that the villagers are looking forward to be ‘a part and parcel of Sohiong’.

Meanwhile, reacting strongly to the allegations made by JA Lyngdoh, contractor Belan Nongbri said he has nothing to do with the transfer which was carried out in accordance with the procedures of the PWD.

Stating that he is also the headman of Laitulong village which falls under the Sohiong constituency, Nongbri said his relationship with HDR is purely professional.

From Our Correspondent

TURA: Local artists and painters of Williamnagar who earn their livelihood painting signboards and banners under different government schemes have expressed their displeasure against the alleged allotment of government projects under MGNREGS to only a particular firm for the past eight years.

The local artists in a communiqué stated that all works under a Central Scheme for making various sign boards under NREGS has been allotted to only firm, M/S Marat Steel Fabrication from Williamnagar from the year 2005 till date.

Government projects are the only source of income generation for people with our expertise and this practice of allotting projects to only one firm has deprived us of our livelihood they informed. They have also alleged that the particular firm only fabricated steel frames and then hired someone else from outside to do the paint job. We had approached the Samanda Block Development Officer regarding it they informed and added that the BDO had rejected their pleas to reconsider the allotment of works stating that the status of tha financial allotment could not be changed.

They have also suggested the withdrawal of pending works allotted to M/S Marak Steel Fabrication by the government and divide it equally amongst the ‘deprived’ firms.

From Our Correspondent

 NONGSTOIN: Envil Lyngdoh, a prominent business of Mawshynrut has announced his participation as an independent candidate in the forthcoming elections.

Envil is the son of (L) Blishon Kharlyngdoh who is the co-founder of the UDP along with E K Mawlong. Envil owns the local petrol pump at Mawshynrut and is also the owner of other petrol pumps in Jaintia Hills.

Envil, a resident of Porsheh Village in Mawshynrut made the announcement on Saturday in Nongstoin.

“Politics is not new to me as it is embedded in my veins” Envil said.

He also said that the decision to contest the election was not solely his own. Elders and villagers’ repeated requests to represent them compelled him to enter politics, Envil added. “Also the prevailing backwardness of the area has compelled me to take responsibility” Envil confessed.

Envil also said that the poverty of the people in Mawshynrut had to be removed and he took upon the task to himself to do the needful.

However, Envil said that the main objective of his representation is to elevate Mawshynrut to a Civil- Subdivision. This has been a long pending demand of the people of the area.

Mawshynrut AC has 290 villages under its ambit. Envil has been on a distribution spree in the AC, distributing plastic water tanks and plastic chairs in the villages.

It may be reminded that prior to his announcement, Mawshynrut AC had 11 candidates contesting from the AC. With Envil, the number has now risen to 12.

From Our Correspondent

JOWAI: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising of the Jaintia Coal and Cement Traders Association and the Jaintia Coal Supplier Association (JCSA) detained six coal laden trucks at Mynkre on Saturday.

The JAC Chairman, Balen Thubru informed that the JAC has strongly opposed the transportation of coal from outside Meghalaya to different cement plants operational in Jaintia hills.

JAC alleged that the CMCL (Star Cement) has failed to respond to the JAC’s ban for the purchase and transportation of coal from outside the State.

“We had detained six coal laden trucks belonging to Star Cement as all these trucks were transporting coal from Bihar to the Cement Plant”, Thubru said.

“Jaintia hills has plenty of coal of different qualities and we could not understand why cement companies still needs to buy coal from outside the state”, he added.

Meanwhile, the Resident Director Star Cement, Devender Bansal clarified that the six trucks of coal detained by the JAC was meant for trial only.

“We had took some coal for trail and we are not aware on the JAC’s prohibition against buying coal from outside the state”.

Eventful occasion

The inauguration of a blood donation camp recently was quite an event. Firstly, the Urban Affairs Minister who officially inaugurated the camp reached the venue almost an hour late. The Minister explained that she was at a cleaning drive in her locality since 7am. When the time came for distributing prizes to the winners of a sporting competition that was held in recently the announcer forgot to call the dignitary to give away the prizes. So someone did that job but made a mess of it. The person was not sure who she wanted to give away the prizes and stammered, “Now I call upon Dr Marak, Oh I am sorry, Dr Sangma, Oh no, I am sorry once again, Dr Shira, Oh I am extremely sorry. May I please call upon Dr Momin to give a brief awareness about blood donation, now?” The audience could only laugh at the gaffe. And as it is the case with every function the microphone went off when Dr Momin was speaking and took some time to be restored. When the audio was restored Dr Momin’s voice was an echo from a distance. Meanwhile it started to drizzle and the young man who had to use his laptop to project something on the screen was forced to shut it down. There were no visuals… The programme was a disaster if ever there was one.

 Her heart beats for Meghalaya

Helen Nichols Roy wife of late SDD Nichols Roy who used to live in Whispering Pines, Pohkseh and now lives in Escondida, USA, with her children, recently wrote a letter (handwritten) to five women she believes could trigger some change in Meghalaya’s politics. Kong Helen as she is fondly called lamented that Meghalaya is suffering from a ‘vacuum of honesty, integrity, dedication and reliability.’ The five women are Roshan Warjri, Queenie Rynjah, Margeret Mawlong, EN Shullai and Silverine Swer. Having seen Meghalaya from close quarters and the rapid change in the city of Shillong every time she visits, Kong Helen sighs with exasperation at the near collapse of civic amenities, the traffic jam, the noxious fumes and the tall concrete structures that have come up in the last twenty years. She wonders what we are all doing to prevent Shillong from turning into a dying city. In her heart, Kong Helen believes that if many more women came forward and joined politics, things might still change for the better. “All of you know the finest young women among the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo community who have the capacity to lead. If they can be encouraged to stand for elections they may be able to contribute more than we dare to anticipate,” the nonagenarian says. Dare we hope in Kong Helen’s exhortation?

 Nature at its best

Meghalaya and the North Eastern states are known fro their wide range of flora and fauna. It’s not for nothing that the region is called a bio-diversity hot spot. But to still see rare mushrooms within Shillong city limits is extraordinary. This particular rare mushroom which is silvery white in colour was found growing in a little grove at Pohkseh, which is perhaps the last of the green lungs of the area. The mushroom called Dictyaphora Duplicata is so beautifully ornate and filigreed like some ornament that it almost looks unreal. The mushroom was caught on camera by David Nichols Roy, who is on a visit to his home, “Whispering Pines” at Pohkseh. The greenery in the huge acreage at Whispering Pines is enviable. There you can find bay leaves and a host of other rare plants. The rainy season throws up an array of mushrooms. Elders in the family teach their young to identify the edible ones from the poisonous variety. Unfortunately this is a dying tradition.

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The week-long training on Integrated Livestock and Poultry Production for Sustainable Hill Agriculture conducted by the Division of Livestock Production of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) NEH Region, Umiam which began on October 1, concluded at the ICAR premises here on Saturday

Urban Affairs Minister distributed the certificates to the 41 participants of the training programme which was organized in collaboration with the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC).

Delivering her speech, Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh pointed out that the state is dependent on other states for various things like food items, essential commodities and organising such programme will not only boost the economic development of the state but also help the youth to be independent.

“With youth comprising more than 66 per cent of the State’s population, it is important that they learn to stand on their feet,” she said. Meanwhile, MPYC president Gabriel Wahlang said that the aim of this programme was to help the youth to be independent and to encourage them to become entrepreneurs.

“Through the Youth Employment Vision, efforts are being made to look for ways and means to ease the burden of unemployment by shaping the youth’s skills and talents in their various fields,” he added.

Director of ICAR Dr S V Ngachan was also present on the occasion.