SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR, Feb 15: The Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi might be blowing the trumpet of his government through advertisements in the media about the number of roads blacktopped and bridges made concrete. But, the story on the ground is different. There are roads both in the rural and urban areas which continue to remain in bad shape with no sign of improvement.
There are allegations that the district administration and the PWD (R) department are taking no measures though several representation has been sent to them.
The ground is that PWD (R) has no fund and there is no allotment of central allocation to the state government. This is the story which has been repeated for the last one year. The network of roads of this town in particular beggars description. The citizens have become tired of airing their grievances and the MLA elected from Silchar, Dilip Kumar Paul, is made the target. Being in the opposition, his voice and cry for improvement of roads do not reach Dispur. Even if it reaches, it is not heard. The MLA uble to convince the people about his helplessness on the issue of roads has decided therefore to sit for indefinite hunger strike from today on the rsingtola ground. His objective is to demonstrate how the state government led by Tarun Gogoi has been pursuing a step-motherly attitude towards Barak Valley. It was after his sustained campaign and raising of the issue of Rs.1000 crore package declared by the Chief Minister that a sum of Rs.320 crore was allotted for improvement of roads of this valley.
Dilip Kumar Paul also raised the issue of worst condition of roads of College road, Chencoorie road and greater Malugram areas in the last budget session of the Assembly. It was from the statement of Ajanta Neog, Planning and Development Minister, on the floor of the House that the quantum of money released was made known. But, no action plan is in sight to improve the roads in question. It is against this situation and condition that the MLA has thought it wise to sit for hunger strike and convey the message needed to the people of this town and the valley.