Letters to the EDITOR: Kaziranga’s tourism boom raises concerns

Kaziranga’s tourism boom raises concerns

The record footfall of over 4 lakh tourists and revenue of Rs 10.95 crore in Kaziranga National Park during 2024–25 is being hailed as a tourism success. However, this rapid growth raises serious ecological concerns.

Kaziranga is a fragile, UNESCO-listed ecosystem. The uncontrolled rise in hotels and infrastructure poses a threat to its wildlife and habitat. Key questions arise: Has the forest department assessed the park’s tourist carrying capacity? Has the forest department enforced the eco-sensitive zone? What is the status of the nine critical animal corridors?

Without stringent regulation and planning, Kaziranga risks being overrun by commercial interests. True development should prioritise sustainability over short-term profits. The focus must be on protecting Kaziranga, not exploiting it.

I urge the authorities to act responsibly to ensure that tourism does not become the reason for Kaziranga’s decline.

Mowsam Hazarika 

Kumarpara, Guwahati-9.

Increased traffic congestion

Traffic jams have indeed become an important problem in many parts of the world, affecting millions of people every day. There are many reasons for this problem, especially with the increase in urban population. Along with the increase in population, the number of cars on the roads has also increased. Today, far more people own their own cars than ever before, allowing for rising incomes, urbanization and personal transportation. Due to the poor state of mass transit in many places, when buses, trains, etc., are incredibly crowded or not available at all, people prefer to go by their cars. That causes more cars to block the roads, slowing down buses or trucks. Cities designed several decades ago, with narrow roads, were often not built to handle this volume of cars. Therefore, narrow roads cannot handle the vehicular traffic during rush hour. In addition, road construction exacerbates the problem of traffic jams. Such works often reduce the width of roads or block roads entirely, making the road narrower for vehicular traffic. Bad weather such as rain, snow, or fog causes accidents, which is another cause of traffic jams. One small accident can cause miles of traffic jams in a matter of minutes. The result of many people trying to use the same road at the same time is traffic congestion problems (e.g., in morning and evening hours). Being stuck in a jam results in increased fuel consumption, higher emissions, and poorer air quality as the engine idles. Some studies have linked pollution from traffic to health problems like asthma or heart disease, especially in dense urban areas. Being stuck in traffic jams for long periods of time also increases stress levels. Some cities have measures such as congestion pricing or Metro as a way to solve this problem. To get some distance from such problems, technologies like real-time traffic apps help drivers avoid the worst roads, i.e., places with high traffic congestion.

In 2023, Bangalore was ranked 6th globally for traffic congestion, and Pune was ranked 7th. A few years ago, Bangalore was ranked as one of the worst cities in India in terms of traffic, but now it is second only to Kolkata in terms of congestion in India. Narrow roads, high population density, and an increasing number of vehicles create severe traffic problems in cities like Kolkata. According to the 2024 TomTom Traffic Index, the top five cities in India are Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Assam is also connected by many national highways, including state highways connecting different parts of the state. The major modes of transportation in Assam are roads, railways, airports, and inland waterways. Guwahati, the capital city of Assam, is especially known for traffic jams and heavy traffic and therefore has a high number of road accidents. Guwahati Traffic Police has an official Twitter handle (@GhtyTrafficPol) for traffic updates and announcements. Guwahati, known as the “Gateway to the North East”, faces heavy traffic congestion due to its rapidly growing population, increase in traffic, and limited road capacity. Construction of new roads to increase road capacity, narrowing of traffic lanes due to flyovers, and other infrastructure projects cause traffic jams in several parts of the city. Inside the city, sometimes conditions get so bad that walking all the way seems more reasonable than taking a car or bus. By mid-2023, the population of Guwahati was about 13.25 lakh. In contrast, according to a report by The Sentinel Assam (July 10, 2023), the number of registered vehicles in the city was about 1.3 million (3 lakh four-wheelers, 6 lakh two-wheelers and 4 lakh other vehicles like commercial ones and auto-rickshaws). Problems arise. It is estimated that 4,000–5,000 new vehicles are registered every year, putting excessive pressure on the roads of the city. With almost one vehicle for every resident, the roads in Guwahati are overly congested. The preference for private rather than public transport has further complicated the situation. The main roads of Guwahati—GS Road, Zoo Road, GNB Road and Silpukhuri Road—form the backbone of the city’s transport system. There is also heavy traffic congestion in areas like Six Mile, Ganeshguri, Machkhowa, Panbazar, Paltan Bazar, Chandmari and Guwahati Club. During certain hours (between 9–11 am and 5–7 pm), travel time through the city increases significantly. According to a report by Sentinel Assam, people on their way to work are stuck in traffic jams for an average of 2–3 hours a day. Although the problem is well known, it is increasing rather than decreasing. This is a complex problem, and we must all work together to solve it.

Himadri Dutta

Gauhati University

Easter: The resurrection of Jesus Christ

Take any festival, and you will find that it has its roots that can be traced back to religious history. Hence, it is no surprise that the many festivals that we celebrate across the world have been spawned by a spate of significant events in antiquity. These important events etched an indelible impression on the collective minds of the people who felt the need to commemorate it, lest posterity overlook its importance. Thus, a slew of celebrations came into existence. The history of Easter is no different. It is one of the oldest and the holiest of all Christian festivals. It is a day revered by Christians who celebrate it with immense religious ardency. The name ‘Easter’ owes its origin to ‘Eastre’, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring that symbolizes the hare and the egg.

Jubel D’Cruz,

(jubeldcruz@yahoo.com)

Gas cylinder explosion menace

Explosions of household gas cylinders have sadly become all too common in the state. Each incident brings not only a heartbreaking loss of life but also the destruction of homes, often reducing entire clusters to ashes within hours. Most victims are poor families or small hoteliers, making the tragedies even more painful.

While mishandling and lack of safety awareness are often to blame, authorities must investigate each incident thoroughly and take proactive steps to prevent future accidents.

Here are some essential safety tips for gas users:

1.      Check for Leaks: Always inspect cylinders for leaks upon delivery. Delivery staff should fix minor issues using a rubber washer or by tightening the nozzle. If leakage persists, request a replacement.

2.      Use Quality Equipment: Always use standard, ISI-marked gas pipes and maintain your stove regularly.

3.      Limit Storage: As per safety guidelines, no more than one filled and one in-use cylinder should be stored in a household at any point. However, it has been observed that many well-to-do families keep 3 or 4 filled cylinders at home or in a flat, putting others in danger too. IOCL should make a door-to-door investigation to bring the crazy culprits to book.

4.      Restrict Access: Children should never handle gas stoves.

5.      Ensure Ventilation: A well-ventilated kitchen reduces risk significantly.

6.      Be Alert: Always turn off the gas after cooking.

IOCL and OIL must ensure full leak tests at filling stations and prevent even slightly faulty cylinders from being distributed. More importantly, they should conduct regular awareness programmes. Awareness isn’t a one-time effort—it must be ongoing.

Prafulla Dowarah,

Guwahati