Letters to the Editor: Between the lines

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said that new NH projects in the Northeast would be allowed only after a 90 per cent acquisition of land. This statement from the Union Minister unequivocally proves that he has found land acquisition hassles in Assam and other states in the region as one of the reasons behind the delays in the completion of NH projects. This statement should remind the governments in the northeastern states that they need to mend their ways in acquisition of land for any national highway projects that have much to do with the development of the states and the people concerned.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Gadkari had agreed in principle to the construction of a 91-km ring road around greater Guwahati passing through Jalukbari, Bhaihata Chariali, Dumuni Chowki, Kuruwa etc. If it has anything to go by, it is good news in deed for the state. The Chief Minister also said that Gadkari had approved the construction of ten flyovers in the state. Gadkari reviewed the delayed National Highway Projects in Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Nagaland in Guwahati. He directed all officials to the speedy completion of the road projects. Gadkari took a dig at contractors, saying that delays in project work without genuine reasons might put them in troubled waters.

Gadkari stressed the importance of coordination and partnership between central and state agencies to develop top-class transport infrastructure in the Northeast. It smacks the fact that the coordination between the state and Central government agencies has not been smooth enough to speed up the progress of NH projects in the region.

The review meeting discussed issues like land acquisition, the progress of ongoing and proposed projects, the use of new technologies, disputes and arbitrations, possible financial interventions etc., at the meeting.

Assam PWD and NHLML (National Highways Logistics Management Ltd) signing an MoU for five ropeway projects worth Rs 2,000 crore in the presence of Union Minister Gadkari and Assam Chief Minister Sarma is good news for the state.

The Sentinel quoted Gadkari as saying, "Strengthening connectivity and boosting transport infrastructure in the Northeast is the top priority of the Central Government. If the states face hurdles in implementing the projects, they can come to us seeking solutions. If they face any funding problem, they are free to move us. I reviewed the delayed projects in the four states to understand the reasons for the delay. I have issued specific instructions to get the projects on track." So far, so good! But then, as hard-beaten citizens, we need to wait and watch. We cannot jump to any conclusion right now.

Topo Singha,

Milan Nagar, Barbari,

Guwahati

Euphoria

Euphoria in English means a false sense of well-being which is rather harmful. In the meantime, the results of the DAC polls are out. BJP, the ruling party, launched an all-out offensive to win the DAC poll hands down. Most of the front-ranking leaders of the BJP, including MLAs, ministers were camping and canvassing for their party's candidates day in, and day out and criticized Congress for the low-profile campaign. They were very confident to win all 22 seats in the DAC poll. But the results proved otherwise. JPP, an ally of the Congress, gave the BJP a fitting reply. The DAC poll simply proves that the BJP is suffering from euphoria. Their leaders namely Pijush Hazarika, Prasanta Phukan, Jayanta Mallabaruah and a few others should learn to restrain themselves. It is time for them to introspect. Else the writings are there on the walls.

Joel Gayari,

Tangla

The recent arrests of a few top-ranked police officers along with three doctors of Mangaldai Civil Hospital should have been top news for the media houses of the state as well as the national instead of news like a Bollywood actress giving birth to a baby hogging the limelight. Our CM deserves positive accolades even from his bitterest critics, namely Bhupen Bora, Akhil Gogoi, Hiren Gohain, etc., to name a few, for his almost single-handed efforts to unearth the cause of the death of a young girl in Dhekiajuli of the Darrang district which, according to police, was a suicide case. They allowed the dead body to be buried and closed the case. Our people-friendly CM, sensing something wrong, even went to the house of the victim's family and immediately constituted an SIT probe into the matter. A high-level CID inquiry started, and the body was exhumed and sent for a post-mortem examination which ultimately unearthed the truth. It has once again proved that crime never pays. It is a wonder of all wonders that an SSB constable had so many resources to bribe the police and the doctors.

It is no doubt the rarest gesture on the part of a CM to give justice to a very poor family. We feel safe under the present CM. Hats off.

Lanu Dutta Chowdhury,

Guwahati.