Guwahati’s clean water crisis
Residents of Guwahati, the largest city of Assam, are gradually facing a crisis in accessing safe drinking water. Despite being located near the Brahmaputra River and other water sources, factors like pollution, inadequate infrastructure, and rapid urbanization have lowered the standards of drinking water in the city. Unregulated use has also caused a drastic reduction in groundwater levels, which is a matter of concern for us. The severe pollution of the Brahmaputra River, the primary source of water collection, has endangered the existence of the city. As a result, dependence on private water suppliers has increased. These suppliers often fail to comply with safety standards, putting public health at risk. Having to buy water, a readily available natural resource, at high prices raises serious questions about our future. The current water supply infrastructure in Guwahati is outdated and insufficient to meet the demands of the growing population. Issues like pipeline leaks, lack of proper purification facilities, and irregular supply have worsened the problem further. Particularly in slums, hills, and interior areas, many residents rely on unclean, unsafe water, resulting in waterborne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, and typhoid. To solve this issue, it is extremely necessary for the concerned authorities to prioritize it urgently. Public awareness and civic responsibility also play a crucial role in this matter.
Sanjeeb Deka
(sanjeebdeka2019@gmail.com)
The Deepfake Epidemic
I am concerned about the rising misuse of deepfake technologies, which use artificial intelligence to create hyper-realistic fake videos and audio. While this technology has legitimate applications in entertainment and education, its misuse poses significant threats. Deepfakes have been used to spread misinformation, manipulate public opinion, and even blackmail individuals. In India, where social media plays a key role in communication, the unchecked spread of deepfakes can lead to social unrest and damage reputations. I urge the government to implement stringent regulations, invest in detection tools, and raise public awareness to combat this growing menace.
Mousam Sharma
Gauhati University
Diversifying Assam’s export basket
Recently the historic Sivasagar district's budding farmers came into the limelight when they exported lemons and pumpkins to markets in Dubai at a time when the neighbouring Bangladesh and Myanmar are grappling with political turbulence. The enhanced self-confidence and ability of the farmers to take well-thought-out risks deserve to be appreciated. The state's small landholdings need to join in cooperative farming, as it is a viable approach to convince farmers to undertake the production of agricultural items having export demand. The editorial, 'Diversifying Assam's export basket,' published in your esteemed daily on December 14, has rightly said that the lack of organic certification poses hurdles in the competitive global export market. What happens is that importers are ready to pay higher and premium prices for organic products from Assam, but they cannot place fresh orders without the vital documentation. Therefore, the state's Farmer Producers Organisations (FMO) should pay equal attention to improving the export ecosystem in the state, apart from tapping the domestic markets. Progress in transportation for faster evacuation of perishable cargo from the state and logistics and storage facilities within the state holds promises for adding more farm products to the state's export basket. The state's handloom and handicraft items have high export potential, and some of these are being exported to various global markets. The massive application of digital technology and state support can not only unlock new opportunities of global trade and commerce for the state's youth but will also help in maintaining uniformity and standardisation of products for the export market. The government agencies and private sector must play the role of catalysts to motivate and guide younger generations to identify traditional and new production practices for tapping export markets. Putting more products in the export basket and ensuring a fair share to the farmers is the need of the hour to sustain it.
Iqbal Saikia,
Guwahati