Letters to the Editor: Need of public restrooms

Despite being the oldest university in Northeast India, the students of Gauhati University's IDOL (Institute of Distance and Open Learning), a constituent of Law and Engineering with 39 postgraduate departments, are unable to locate any public restrooms outside the GU market area, which is also in poor condition and is perpetually dirty. One of the most prominent effects of unclean and neglected public restrooms is that it can cause health issues for those who use them. Numerous studies have revealed that there could be more than 50,000 different species of germs and viruses in public restrooms. And if they aren't cleaned for a while, the number of dangerous bacteria that are building up in the public restrooms will undoubtedly increase. Numerous individuals may become ill as a result of the growth of germs and viruses in these locations. In general, dirty public restrooms can pose a major risk to the general populace. In order to protect students' health, PGSU members of GU should prioritize this venture, and build more public restrooms on campus while maintaining the market restroom.

Parilina Das,

Gauhati University.

Noise pollution- A nuisance

Noise pollution impacts millions of people on a daily basis. It has become a major concern as it causes great damage to the health of the citizens. Factories which are responsible for producing too much noise should be located on the outskirts of the city and the use of loudspeakers should be prohibited after a certain period of time. Unnecessary honking of vehicles also causes loss of hearing and noise pollution, and because of that students are unable to concentrate on studies, suffers from irritability, mental fatigue and also loss of sleep. Excessive noise can also increase blood pressure and pulse rates. Regular exposure to elevated sound levels leads to adverse affects in humans or other living organisms.

I request you to publish my plight drawing attention to the concern authorities to enforce strict noise control laws for better livelihood.

Pooja Maibangsa

Mass Communication

& Journalism, GU

Cleaning of drains and culverts

The rainy season will be emerging soon and Guwahati will once again be in headlines resulting in flash floods. People suffer a lot during this time and many even lose their lives.

I would like to draw attention to the department concerned to do the needful and take steps in cleaning the city's drains and culverts so that water can easily flow without having to overflow in the city. Desiltation process should be carried timely to save the city from the brunt of flash floods. As supersuckers has been pressed into service, the process of declogging of the drains and the culverts will perhaps be done in a short period of time.

Mrs Purabi Pathak Barua

Guwahati

Garbage on the streets

I would like to bring to your notice that a lot of garbage is thrown on the streets of Guwahati. There are not enough garbage bins to dispose of the waste material. The waste material disposed here and there smells bad and it is difficult to cross various streets without blocking one's nose. Therefore, through your esteemed newspaper, I request the government to take some action in this regard.

Sangita Borah,

Gauhati University.

Tackle with iron fist

It is often seen that some activists resort to road and rail blockade as a mean of protest against any local or political issue at the drop of a hat. It causes immense hardships to ones carrying patients for treatment, candidates coming to appear in interviews, small traders to sell their products, daily wage earners, students from attending their class, employees coming to attend office etc. The agitators instead of resorting to other democratic tactics, do such type of protests just to attract media attention, which ultimately affects the common people. Unfortunately, our media, both print and electronic, oblige them which in turn encourages these agitators to disturb the normal routine of the innocent commuters. We the common law-abiding citizens strongly urge the law-enforcing authority to deal with these agitators very sternly.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury

Guwahati

Protecting traditions

'Bihu with packaging ladoos and pithas, Assamese on the highway-social media!' - I read a story on the front page of a newspaper. The news meant that the Assamese showed Assamesegiri only on the highways and social media, using packaged laddoos, pithas in the market. It was sad to read the news. Bhupen Hazarika said, "If today's Assamese do not know themselves, Assam will go to the rasatal." It seems to be becoming a reality now. Because the tradition in which the Assamese people used to celebrate Bihu seems to be followed only by a section of the people today. It is a matter of concern that the atmosphere created during Bhogali Bihu in the gumgumani of the dheki, the atmosphere in which everyone used to make pitha-ladoo together in the kitchen, the atmosphere in which chira-sandah kuta was made, is now fading away as people prefer to buy packets of pitha-ladoo, chira-sandah in the market.

In this age of modernization, we should not forget our culture and traditions. We must protect our traditions.

Sanjib Sagar Das

Barpeta