Special Correspondent
Silchar: The inhabitants of Sadarghat, Itkhola, Club road and Steamer Ghat have been facing lot of problems due to the illegal activities resorted to by unscrupulous elements. Their activities have become a cause of concern not only for the people of these areas but also for the student community. In a joint memorandum, NGOs Bijoyee Sangha, Non-Violence Club and Traffic Rules Enrolment Committee submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar on Friday drew his attention to this problem and sought his intervention for remedial measures as resolved in their meeting held on November 25.
The aggrieved members highlighted specific instances of unpleasant and unethical activities experienced by them while moving through the region. The litany of allegations include unauthorized parking spaces created by the taxi drivers in and around Sadarghat, Dhakaipatty and at the junction of Nutanpatty as well as R R Shome road which the residents prayed should be removed immediately. Along with that are unauthorized auto stands at Drugs Corner point and in front of Cachar College and Cachar Zila Parishad, besides Sadarghat Vivekananda Statue. Such illegal parking has to be removed.
It has also been pointed out that private cars and commercial vehicles are found to ply in gross violation of traffic rules. It is impressed upon to make the traffic department to monitor the situation, impose traffic rules strictly since it leads to frequent traffic jams and road accidents. Free entry of black coated auto rickshaws inside the town area contributes much disorder in traffic system which has to be restricted according to the Motor Vehicles Rules. Of grave concern is the conversion of Capital point tri-junction into a common taxi and trekker auto stand which makes it difficult for the pedestrians to cross the area during busy hours. It is therefore prayed that necessary action is warranted to remove this.
Another irritating factor is the continuation of bus ticket counter in the municipal market at the western end of Sadarghat bridge which is distant from the place from where the buses originate. This creates a haphazard situation, causing great inconvenience to the pedestrians. As this is causing nuisance in the wider public inhabited areas, it should be shifted or removed. It is also apprehended that clandestine marketing of wine, drugs and other forms of intoxicating materials is going on from some shops located in the municipal market and needs to be checked and eliminated. It is also apprehended that the space below the approach to the newly constructed Sadarghat bridge and close to PHE water filtration plant if remains vacant might be encroached upon and misused in future. It will be appropriate if fish and vegetable market is allowed to be set up there for larger public interest.
Construction of unauthorized sheds on the roadside in front of Monoranjan Complex at Steamer Ghat has become a comfortable address for anti-social activities by some miscreants during night. Such sheds should be demolished without delay. Some shops below old Sadarghat bridge are also known to market drugs and have become the safe destination for drug-addicted youths in particular. All this are adding to pollute the environment and making the civil life unbearable. The memorandum signed by the residents of the areas has also been submitted to the Superintendent of Police, chairman, Silchar municipal board and district transport officer.
Also read: Cachar news