Editor,
Once upon a time the entire ridge between Mawkhap and Pynursla was full of greenery, captivating a first time visitor. Now the entire route is facing an environmental catastrophe leading to drop in water sources, landslides, caving of roads and dangerous driving conditions.
The recent incident at Rngaiñ of an entire hillock with boulders coming down onto unsuspecting commuters has come true. The loss of precious human lives cannot be brought back with any kind of compensation. The headman of Wahlyngkhat was a known friend of mine and we had been very much interactive related to the issues of the local community. His sudden demise along with his friend is regrettable.
However, it is ironic that the local administration has failed to keep a check on this wanton excavation and did not do anything to control or regulate the way the extraction of boulders was being carried out by exporters.
The local MLA’s statement of filing an FIR does not absolve the culprits of their greed. Now who will be answerable to the families and moreover to the law after all this? Have we become such a lawless State, a lawless society where law enforcement is such a headache? This we will leave to those in authority to answer.
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong
