Editor,
All governments irrespective of their parties always repair roads before elections. They’ve been repairing roads at every election that by now the thickness of the road should have been as high as a hillock. But the truth is the first rain is always made of steel and it leaves potholes and damages the roads so much that within a month of monsoons, vehicles have to move like tortoises over potholes and stony ways. If a heavy shower comes then one have to search if there was once a pucca road. What sort of materials are used by contractors to repair roads? Why can’t ministers inspect the roads when they are being repaired and punish people responsible for making roads as thin as POTATO chips? It’s 2021 and we’ve been voting for decades to go back to the stone age? We aren’t moving forward. Has anyone noticed how we’re growing old and nothing has changed?
Except for the highways, all roads leading to major towns and villages in Garo Hills are in a dilapidated condition. So far no holistic developmental work has taken place during these 3/4 decades. Tura for me looks like the dumbest city with no good roads, no pavements, no flyovers no street lights, no drainage system, no traffic lights, and no proper waste management system. There has been no upgradation of the health care system and only one Government hospital is catering to thousands of patients. Basic amenities like water and electricity are now a problem of every household. We have to arrange these for ourselves.
Now what is the use of having leaders who don’t care for the people?? Let them repair any road before elections; we are really not amused.
Yours etc.,
LA Sangma,
Via email
Load-shedding shock
Editor,
It’s the 21st century. I believe darkness should not overwhelm us. The government must put earnest efforts to address this power crisis in the state. Nothing could more disgraceful than the fact that we have been experiencing load-shedding every year in Meghalaya. I think we ourselves are to blame for this. We have not at all learned from the hardships and the deep “economic slowdown” resulting from power poverty for over a decade. It only goes to expose our poverty of responsibility. We totally lack farsightedness and therefore darkness always stares us right in our face. Unlike others, the entire student community is suffering.
However, it is good that the government is now taking both criticism and suggestions on board. Of course, it’s a worthwhile decision on the part of the power minister,James Sangma to approach the center, (“After load-shedding shock, James to call on Delhi”.. ST, dated Feb 3, 2021)/ I hope, the Centre will take the matter seriously. In view of the non-productive bulky MeECL, the government of Meghalaya, with the help of Delhi, must now come up with an ambitious plan and policy to restructure the power sector in the state. The digital age that we are blessed with cannot run on candles and lanterns. Even phone calls are not going through during the long spell of load-shedding. Hope this fact is enough to give a “shock” to our authorities concerned.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong
Public taken for a royal ride
Editor,
The Shillong Times of March 3, 2021 carried the story relating to the demand of the HYC for keeping the Smart Meter scheme under the Meghalaya Power Distribution Sector Improvement Project in abeyance. At first glance one thought it was simply just another stunt of this pressure group but on reading the news report it turned out that the HYC this instance has really hit pay dirt and has unearthed a diabolic plot of the MDA Govt to further plunder the public. The story is all about the power department’s / MeECL decision to install 2,07,015 smart meters in and around Shillong city through the ADB loan of Rs. 232 crores. Through an approved tender the cost would come to an approximate Rs 10,000 per meter. What is shocking is that in the rest of India the cost for similar meters is only Rs. 3000 each, meaning that the consumers in Meghalaya are expected to pay an extra Rs 7000/- per meter as compared to what other citizens of this country are paying. This means an additional unexplained payment of Rs 144 crores from the consumers’ pockets. No explanation as to why this extra cost for Meghalaya and we are therefore left to draw our own conclusions.
Let us not forget that ADB has already sanctioned a loan of more than Rs 232 crores for the project. The cost for implementing the project will be met from this loan, meaning that we the people will again be taxed towards repayment of this loan to ADB. Now there is no indication whatsoever that the extra Rs 144 crores is aimed at loan repayment. So where will this 144 crores go?.At Rs 3000 per meter the supplier would already have taken into account his profit margin. So the extra Rs 7000 per meter is simply to facilitate a kickback to bosses of the Power department in the state. There is no other explanation. It is learnt that the NPP is setting up candidates for the West Bengal Assembly polls. This will require massive funding. It is obvious now that this funding is designed to come out of our pockets but without our consent and permission. We will be robbed to facilitate infantile NPP’s political ambitions in West Bengal.
We are sick and tired of the scams that this MDA Government is generating with each passing day. The illegal coal mining and transport scam is ongoing. There are rumours of a Covid 19 scam yet to be uncovered. Now this multi- crore power scam uncovered thanks to the HYC. Everything this Government touches stinks of corruption and underhand deals and the stench emanates from the very top. Top NPP honchos try to brazen it out and to listen to the NPP President trying to defend his party is like listening to the childish prattling of a juvenile delinquent. The HYC needs public support on this particular issue of smart meters. The public must rise up to put a halt to this daylight looting that through the Power sector. This is corruption of the highest order! We need to raise hell! We need to raise public consciousness! We need to go to court! We need a CBI inquiry into this sordid mess! We need to stop this scam in its tracks!
Yours etc.,
DS Khongjee,
Via email
Solve the traffic mess!
Editor,
Shillong as we all know is bursting at the seams and the number of vehicles has exploded. In fact vehicles are increasing at almost the same pace as our population while the roads have remained the same. This is causing traffic congestion comparable to that of Mumbai or Kolkata. Cars stuck for hours together, is now normal. A journey of 15 minutes now takes an hour to traverse. The annoying traffic congestion is affecting people from all walks of life. Students reach their classes late while daily wage earners bear the brunt. Though there is a proposal of a 4- lane road towards Upper Shillong, it seems like the project will take another decade or so. Now this is something the common man should not put up with.
The Government needs to tackle this matter at the earliest and in the best way possible. The proposed cable car seems like another joke from the Government and will probably take 5 years or more to be completed. We the public need an assurance that the traffic problem will be solved at the earliest. This is the only way that people will trust the current Government.
Yours etc.,
Reakor Shisha Kharkrang
Shillong- 9