Water crisis in Zoo Road: Letters to THE EDITOR

Water crisis in Zoo Road

Water Supply Scheme

Honourable Chief Minister Sir,

(Attention Media Adviser to CM). This is the third memorandum from a senior citizen of 78 years age and a retired Joint Secretary, Assam government during the last about two months on the above subject. It seems the Jal Board is playing a hide-and-seek game, without caring a bit for the extreme suffering of the Consumers who are compelled to make hefty payments even for this continuous non service. No reason is given to the consumers at least through the media. Media, both print and electronic, are also seemed unpurturbed on such an important matter of public interest. The public, who are consumers of various ages, patients etc., are the victims, being compelled to pay through their noses for more costly and inferior quality water from tankers. Is there any nexus between the Jal Board and tankers? Once again I request earnestly to order to cause an inquiry leading to mitigation of this avoidable suffering. There is no shortage of water as the source is the mighty Brahmaputra.

P.K. Gupta,

Ananda Mansion,

Dispur

Move to cancel trains

This is apropos to letter by Mr. A. P. Choudhury titled "Move to cancel trains" about cancellation of 12086/12085 Dibrugarh–Guwahati Shatabdi Express published in your esteemed daily on 13th August, 2020. Shatabdi Express is one of the premier trains running in India and a pride of Assam. The cleanliness, hygiene and ambience of the interior of the compartments give an exotic feeling and comparable to a journey by European trains with the scenic beauty of tea gardens, paddy fields, rivulets and greenery of the Brahmaputra Valley through the large glass panes. A journey by this state-of-art train service is always a memorable and comfortable one.

I have travelled through Shatabdi train for a quite number of times from Sivasagar to Guwahati and back. Every time I found the train almost packed. A travel by Shatabdi train can never be compared to that of a Volvo bus or other AC bus services. I must state at this juncture that the Volvo buses are very unreliable and susceptible to cancellation within a few hours prior to start of the journey causing severe hardships to passengers. I had been victim to such cancellations twice or thrice. Thus there is always an element of uncertainty even after having a confirmed bus ticket of Volvo. Besides, the amenities in the bus-stops are unhygienic and deplorable, especially for the ladies. Food and cleanliness in the road-side restaurants are also not of acceptable standard. Even to board a bus one needs to spend a reasonably hefty sum to reach ISBT or Khanapara by a taxi.

Now, cancellation of this premier train will lead to discontent amongst passengers who prefers train journey over bus journey. The motive behind the cancellation is dubious and smacks of undue influence.

A rescheduling of the timing and running the Shatabdi trains on weekends will definitely attract more passengers.

Through this newspaper The Sentinel, I draw attention of the authorities concerned to the above facts and earnestly request them to revisit the unpopular decision to cancel the services of Shatabdi Express.

Kankan Kumar Das,

Gokuldham, Off Film City Road

Goregaon East, Mumbai

Not apolitical anymore

Since its inception the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) has always been an apolitical organization standing with the interest of the indigenous sons and daughters of the soil. The common populace of the state has too have reciprocated every AASU's call for agitations against the Centre's apathy towards the state or its people. The famous Assam Agitation is the glaring example where people of all ages, sect, caste and religion voluntarily came out on the streets and stood by the students' organization. It was an undivided house starting from Sadiya to Dhubri. Post the agitation the then student leaders were made lawmakers of the state even occupying the prestigious Chief Minister's post. The recent developments in the AASU's camp where the current incumbent Mr. Lurinjyoti Gogoi (general secretary) in an interview with a web portal talked about joining a political party. It is the democratic right of every individual to join or support any political party but disclosing the intention of joining a political bandwagon during his tenure as general secretary of the august organization is simply not done. After the retirement from AASU we have seen numerous leaders joining political forces which are absolutely no issues but from the middle of the AASU's forum anyone opining to join political party is unacceptable. Mr. Lurinjyoti Gogoi was an active activist in the anti-CAB/CAA movement in the state and there we have witnessed several active activists later on joining various political parties. The prime example is veteran journalist Ajit Bhuyan who with the patronage of the Congress and the AIUDF became an MP. It should be an eye opener for leaders like Mr. Lurinjyoti Gogoi and all that power without accountability is dangerous. The genuine electorates of the state are wise and everyone is keeping track of what happened to Guwahati city in the name of the anti-CAA agitation. Enough of playing with the sentiments and emotions of the people as it might compel them to question the apolitical integrity of the AASU.

Dr. Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati-1.

Jatin Bora joining BJP

That Jatin Bora, who occupies a special place in the Assamese society, doing a U-turn on the CAA on Monday last by rejoining the BJP does attract condemnation. When the anti-CAA protests gained momentum across Assam, the popular actor joined it defying even curfew clamped at Guwahati. Addressing the protesters at Latasil Field, this very actor admitted that it was only the immense love of the Assamese that had made his being successful as an actor possible. And so, it was his bounden duty to stand with the public on every issue. Quite regrettably, the same person stated, apologizing to the leadership and members of Assam State BJP through a press conference, that he had realized his mistake of joining the anti-CAA stir.

As such, the netizens have every reason to lambast the actor with angry comments on social media platforms. Besides Jatin Bora, a few more artistes, including the popular singer Vidyasagar have also joined the BJP lately.

Unfortunately, these artistes have failed to realize that only the love of the general masses of the state, not the role played by any political party, has made them what they are today. I think to remind them that the love and support of the general public makes an artiste powerful, not any political party or mechanism. Artistes are communicators by their very core who have always influenced society and shaped things to come through their work. Their work gives voice to the politically or socially disenfranchised. They should remember that art alone creates beauty, not politics. We want them to create beauty to make the society beautiful- a place worth living for humans.

Dipen Gogoi,

Teok, Jorhat

Sanjeevani initiative

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare-initiated 'eSanjeevani' platform has now engaged 2 lakh tele-counselors. The forum provides its usefulness and easy access for the caregivers and the medical community, and those seeking healthcare services in the times of COVID through the toll-free number and downloads the ePrescription from the website. Doctor-to-Doctor (eSanjeevani) and Patient-to-Doctor (eSanjeevani OPD) teleconsultations are available on this platform. It emerges to be the right step towards Digital India in the healthcare sector and reduces the distance barrier between doctors and patients. As a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic, existing healthcare services have been affected badly. This Digital service will be effortless for the people in remote areas. The need of the hour is that the State government should promote medical care services by digital platforms and ensure the accessibility of services to the masses.

Amit Singh Kushwaha,

Satna (M.P.)

2nd cleanest town

Tezpur is selected as the second cleanest town in the north-eastern region having population of fifty thousand to one lakh. After announcing the results, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Pury said, "Swachh Survekshan (cleanliness survey) will continue to help us in sustaining the gains made under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban."It is welcome that Tezpur is the second best clean town in the region.

Putul Sarma,

Biswanath Chariali