Make or break for Guwahati!

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 25: 'Swachh Survekshan', 2017 is underway in Guwahati, along with 499 other cities of the country. How will Guwahati fare under the watchful eye of Quality Council of India (QCI), an autonomous body conducting the performance evaluation of the Swachh Survekshan? Is not the situation a make-or-break one for Guwahati?

Cities are the engines of growth. For cities to continue their contribution and provide quality of life to citizens, urban cleanliness is of central importance.

The GMCH Road is taken as a case study. The road leads one from GS Road at Bhangagarh to Kahilipara Road at Kahilipara. Just after crossing the GMCH Hostel Road that protrudes from GMCH Road, on its left there are stinking heaps of garbage. Squeezing one's nostrils with one's fingers in order to avoid inhaling an unpleasant smell is the common scene among passersby who happen to cross these filthy spots on foot. This is not just an ordiry scene. This is a clear indication of disapproval to the situation by the commoners, let alone by the officials of the QCI.

This is not the sum total of the entire Swachh Bharat Abhiyan carried out in Guwahati - its success or failure. There are other such instances as well. What this reporter exactly wants to get across is - 'Guwahati is still miles away from meeting the benchmark set for it for achieving a better ranking in the eye of the QCI. Those involved in the drive should keep it in their mind that 500 cities of the country have been vying for better ranks for them'.