Government’s book purchase initiative
My attention has recently been drawn to letters published in a vernacular daily on 16th March 2025, which highlight a rather curious initiative by the state government—a disbursal of Rs 1000 to each of its employees for purchasing books. While this might seem like a generous gesture at first glance, the underlying implications are worth questioning.
In the face of the state’s ongoing financial struggles, such initiatives seem rather misplaced. The Assam government is grappling with a severe fiscal crisis, and in such a scenario, directing resources towards seemingly trivial expenses raises concerns. It’s high time for the Assam government to implement stricter austerity measures in its spending, prioritising essential services over discretionary expenditures.
At present, one might be forgiven for assuming that Assam’s trees bear money and that all it takes is a simple shake for funds to fall freely from their branches. But this is not the reality. We must reconsider where our priorities lie and whether such symbolic acts truly address the pressing financial challenges at hand. In these challenging times, the focus should be on stabilising the economy and fostering long-term growth, not on superficial gestures that fail to tackle the core issues.
Prafulla Dowarah,
Guwahati
Is Bumrah unfit?
Jasprit Bumrah, the prime Indian pace bowler who spearheads the Indian opening bowling attack, has already become a terror among the leading batters of the cricketing world with his fantastic accuracy and is currently under rehabilitation. It is because of the injury he suffered during the Gavaskar-Border series played in Australia and he couldn’t take part in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy held in Pakistan and Dubai. Right now, he is undergoing rehabilitation therapy under BCCI’s supervision. So far, the latest medical report is concerned Bumrah is yet to be cricket fit.
Team India is undertaking a 5-test series tour of England where Bumrah’s presence is of utmost importance. BCCI should see that Bumrah does not take part in the ensuing IPL, which might flare up his injury, which in turn may prevent our premier pace bowler from taking part in the upcoming England tour. Apart from that, recurring injuries might jeopardise his future cricketing career, which India cannot afford, as he is an asset for TEAM INDIA.
Dr. Ashim Chowdhury,
Guwahati.
Byrnihat: World’s most polluted city
The dangerous pollution levels at Byrnihat, an industrial town that stands on both sides of the Assam and Meghalaya boundary close to Guwahati, which has been reportedly featured as the most polluted city in the world by a Swiss company, have currently become a matter of serious thought and concern for all. The company's World Air Quality Report for 2024 said that the annual average PM2.5 concentration in this industrial town was 128.2 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m³), which is reportedly many times more than the WHO's air quality guidelines of 5 ug/m³. A Helsinki-based organisation called the Centre for Research and Clean Air had also ranked Byrnihat the most polluted city in India. As a result, several health issues, like the incidence of cancer and tuberculosis, have reportedly been rising in and around thickly populated industrial towns. The editorial 'Byrnihat Pollution Row,' published in your esteemed daily on March 16, has rightly said that the poor quality of air in Byrnihat may be attributed to industrial and other activities along the Assam side and needs to be viewed with all seriousness. The Central Pollution Control Board's designation of Byrnihat Industrial Area inside Assam, which runs along this town of Meghalaya, as a Critically Polluted Area (CPA) has led to a fresh row between the two neighbouring states.
Now needed is a situation of cooperation between the states instead of words of war to resolve the interstate air pollution issue in a cordial and congenial atmosphere so that it does not become a setback in the long-pending interstate boundary disputes. One's saying may not be believing, but when one sees, it becomes clear and transparent where lies whose faults. Let's remember that one can change friends, but not neighbours. So, a peaceful solution to the burning Byrnihat pollution problem is the need of the hour for the survival of all.
Iqbal Saikia,
Guwahati.