earthquake of the 12th of June 1897 and I shudder to think of the destruction that would be caused by an earthquake of this magnitude should it hit the region in this present day and age. Though some may deem my visions of doom and gloom unfounded, I ask them only to look and judge for themselves whether or not we are putting ourselves at great risk by not being prudent. In spite of the advancements in technology and architecture, I have to question – Can any advancement of technology stand against nature’s wrath? I think Fukushima and Japan in general should answer this question quite sufficiently.

Albert Nongrum
Shillong

Accountability is the key to the vexed issue of mega dams proposed for the North East Region. Bureaucrats, politicians and policy makers, in the lack of accountability are given a free hand to come up with policies, regardless of their feasibility as they know that even if these policies fall flat, they will never be brought to book or at the very worst, they will receive a slap on the wrist. With a system based on accountability firmly in place, policy makers would never initiate projects that have no possibility of success and which might have ill effects for the people of the country in the long run. It is by this argument that I feel that accountability is the dire need of the country at the moment.

Sujit Jain
Asssam

The quality of services provided by most government hospitals is mediocre at best – This is a widely known fact and hence the mushrooming of private run hospitals which charge an arm and a leg for ‘quality services’. Healthcare is the prerogative of the government and one of its responsibilities is to ensure quality health services to its citizens. The article about patients who were undergoing blood transfusions and who were infected by the HIV virus at the Mangaldoi Civil Hospital is unacceptable. This is the last straw and heads should roll for this travesty. It is ironic that the very hospital which is supposed to cure a patient of his illness becomes the architect of his doom.

Manoj Dey
Assam

In view of your last article on limestone mining in Jaintia Hills, I found the article to be very insightful indeed, as it has opened up my eyes to the natural threat that the State is facing due to the exploitation of natural mineral deposits available to us. It is clearly time for us to wake up and realize what these acts of natural exploitation will do to our natural scenic beauty that has been bestowed upon us. The fact that these mining acts are being carried out due to a loophole present in the Forest Act is what I believe to be the main cause for all of this. As mentioned in your article, since the definition of the term ‘Forest’ in the Act has been manipulated by many,  it has become a source of encouragement to the people who are exploiting the environment and are just looking to earn maximum profit through mining. Jaintia Hills has gone beyond the point of no return and it is only a matter of time before all water sources and other natural resources in the region will be completely destroyed by ‘Mining’. I applaud the Deputy Commissioner, P. K. Dkhar, for his actions against limestone mining in the region and it is high time for the people of Jaintia Hills to take a stand and fight back against this menace to the environment.

Vanessa Clarity Lyngdoh.
Shillong.