SHILLONG:
UDP chief adviser Bindo M Lanong on January 20 questioned the government’s decision to shut down Mawmluh Cherra Cement Limited (MCCL).
“What made them shut it down? Why was MCCL, of which the state has its own share, closed when some people from Delhi, UP, and other places are in a position to build up cement plants in the state? he questioned.
“The two key components for cement are coal and limestone, and MCCL is located in coal and limestone areas,” he continued. The cement industry is conveniently close to these ingredients. Why did they shut down the cement plant while allowing small private factories to operate?
Regularisation of services
Lanong further questioned the government’s failure to regularise the services of teachers and employees who have worked for over 15-17 years.
According to him, many teachers and employees who have served for many years are still being treated as casual employees in the state.
Referring to Assam High Court’s judgment that those who completed three years of service should be regularised, he said, “If we find that now that three years is not enough, not deserving, make it five, make it six but people who have served for more than 10 years are still not yet regularised and some of the employees have retired as casual. Why can’t the government sit and think that for example those who completed five years or six years or seven years you can always regularise their services.”
Traffic problem
Expressing concern over the traffic problem in Shillong, Lanong said, “Why can’t there be at least one fly over maybe from Happy Valley or Laitkor or Mawblei up to Mawlai or Mawiong. In Guwahati, the numbers of flying over have come up like anything that you will miss your way or destination. So many flyovers in a matter of one or two years but there is nothing in Meghalaya. At least, if there is one main flyover it will really solve 25-30 per cent of the problem we are facing immediately.”
Failure of agri dept
Meanwhile, Lanong said that the agriculture department has failed in the state. He said he was really shocked to see people in areas like Nongkrem, Pomlakrai, Umphyrnai are concentrating on just one or two agricultural items like potato, cabbage, and radish.
“You will not find any horticultural item, no horticultural project undertaken or spread out even in this place like Nongkrem area. We depend on the farmers and if they cannot make up the food for themselves, what will be the condition of the people in the urban areas? he questioned.”
He added that they depend on these two or three vegetable items and not a single tree where they can grow fruits. The horticulture programme should come up in these areas.