People agitate over worst shape of Silchar–Jaintia Road
SILCHAR, August 22: Contrary to the claims of the State government about the better and improved conditions of highways, roads, both urban and rural, and the bridges in Barak Valley, the ground reality is totally different. Not a week passes when people agitated over the worst condition of road in their areas did not hold protest demonstration in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioners here, at Karimganj and Hailakandi. Within the last 24 hours, the administrative complex of Cachar has been rocked by massive protest demonstrations, one by the students of Assam University and residents of the areas around the centre of higher education and the other by the people of Hillara and Bihara as well as the cluster of villages around.
As highlighted, the condition of the University Road has been deteriorating day by day and the students in particular have a harrowing time to travel through this link to reach their centre of studies. Similar and even worst are the experiences of the people of Hillara–Bihara greater areas who have to take to Jaintia Road, linking this town and other important places. Despite repeated representations to the authorities concerned, high and low, no positive action has been taken to repair and improve the vital century old road which in the past was an important route to Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya.
Presently, its condition beggars description. Frustrated and flabbergasted with the indifferent attitude of the PWD (R) and also the unresponsiveness of the Deputy Commissioner, past and present, around 200 people of Hillara–Bihara and villages in the areas came by different modes of transport here to participate in the protest demonstration today. Men, women, youths and students with banners and posters raised slogans demanding satisfactory replies to their various questions about the allotment of funds and their utilization and why the condition should remain so bad. The placards read why the road should become so worse that it looked like a watery tank at many places. Despite crores of rupees having been sanctioned under various schemes, the road remained a virtual death–trap with gaping holes and craters. A journey through this road was not only nightmarish but also a nerve–breaking experience, another banner read. Question was also raised about the questionable method of utilization of funds in crores of rupees for the ambitious National Automotive Testing and Research and Development Infrastructure Project (NATRIP) of the Centre at Dholcherra. The protest demonstration organized by Deshbandhu Club Action Committee, Babur Bazar Sadak Unnayan Committee and Khambar Bazar Sadak Sanskar Sangram Committee was also held in front of the office of the PWD (R). The demonstration started from 11 am and concluded at 1 pm. Leaders of the committees said that some time ago assurance came from the Deputy Commissioner on the immediate steps for the repair and improvement of the road in question. But, since nothing tangible emerged, the agitation was resorted to.
The leaders cautioned if nothing was done to improve the road within 15 days, the people would hit the streets at different points of Silchar–Jaintia Road and create blockades which would paralyze the vital communication link and all sorts of vehicular traffic would come to a standstill. Rabindra Narayan Acharya, a member of the Deshbandhu Club Action Committee, lamented though crores of rupees, according to their information, were sanctioned from time to time, it was most pathetic that no improvement work was undertaken. Expressing his deepest sense of anger and anguish, he too talked tough to block the road indefinitely.
Source: The Sentinel 23.08.2013
