Multimodal connectivity gets a boost
I am writing to express my strong support for the insightful editorial, "Making Assam the Hub of Multimodal Trade and Commerce," published on 19th February 2025. The article effectively highlights Assam’s strategic importance in international trade and the tremendous potential unlocked by the inauguration of the Inland Water Transport (IWT) terminal at Jogighopa. This initiative is a significant milestone in positioning Assam as a critical trade corridor for India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. The connectivity provided by the terminal, along with its integration with the upcoming Multimodal Logistics Park (MMLP), will enhance Assam’s role in regional and global commerce. Improved navigability of the Brahmaputra, strengthened by the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route, will further facilitate seamless trade and economic growth. As mentioned in the editorial, Assam’s inclusion in key infrastructure initiatives like the Bharat Mala Pariyojana and the proposed broad-gauge railway link will bolster its status as a logistics and trade hub. These developments will not only attract global investors but also create substantial employment opportunities, thereby boosting the state’s economy. Furthermore, the Assam government’s commitment to improving road networks, particularly the Kokrajhar-Gelephu corridor, is commendable. However, for these advancements to have a lasting impact, consistent efforts in river dredging, better transportation integration, and private sector participation are essential. Aligning these developments with India’s Act East Policy will ensure long-term economic sustainability for the region.
Heramba Nath,
Hindumaizali, Kamrup
CEC appointment process
This is in reference to the recently appointed CEC; notwithstanding a dissenting note from the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has been appointed as the CEC by a three-member panel headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, comprising Home Minister Amit Shah and LoP Rahul Gandhi. The reason behind Gandhi's dissent was that the matter is still pending before the court, raising the question of why the appointment was rushed. Previously, the Chief Justice of India was part of the selection panel; however, this changed after the NDA government passed the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Act, 2023. Keeping this in mind, the Vice President recently voiced his support for excluding the CJI from the selection process. It appears that the power to choose the next CEC and other Election Commissioners is now tilted entirely in favour of the central government.
Aarohi Gupta,
Guwahati
Assam lacks
cold storages
The news article, 'Lack of adequate cold storage makes farmers and consumers bear the brunt,' published in your esteemed daily on February 19, has drawn our attention. It is indeed a matter of surprise and deeply regrettable that Assam, being an agrarian state, is still lacking adequate cold storage facilities. Why it is so is beyond one's understanding, whereas in other states the cold storage issue gets topmost priority. Recently, the state dedicated to the nation the Inland Waterways Terminal (IWT) at Jogighopa. But the multimodal connectivity through the state will remain a mere transit route if we do not boost Assam's export volume, and this will be possible only when the state has an adequate number of cold storage facilities. As reported, the state produced around 215 lakh tonnes of vegetables in 2022-23, but the state has only 46 cold storages, which is not enough. It has been reported that the cold storages are leased out to the private parties, and the local farmers are allowed to use hardly ten percent of the facility, and the rest of the ninety percent of spaces are open for imported fruits and vegetables, for which the local farmers suffer a lot. Due to the absence of sufficient cold storage facilities, a section of the state's farmers have to sell their produce either at throwaway prices or throw away their seasonal vegetables like tomatoes, brinjals, cabbages, and cauliflowers on the roads with tearful eyes. At the same time, the consumers have to buy off-season vegetables coming from outside the state at exorbitant prices due to inadequate cold storage across the state. Unless the state agriculture department makes a combined effort with the government and evolves a well-thought-out mechanism for setting up the latest technology-based cold storages in every district according to the needs of the local farmers and ensures proper management of the facilities, the gap between the growers and middlemen will remain close. The current scenario demands the need to free the chain of cold-storage facilities from the grip of private parties to give both farmers and consumers a respite from all times to come. The sooner the action is taken, the better for making Assam a hub of multilateral trade and commerce between India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh through waterways in the near future.
Iqbal Saikia,
Guwahati.