Citizen body seeks improvement of draige system

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR, July 15: A memorandum highlighting the deplorable conditions of draige in the town was submitted by members of garik Swartharaksha Sangram Parishad (NSSP) to Niharendra rayan Thakur, chairman, Silchar Municipal Board, on Monday. It has been stated that due to heavy silting and random encroachment along the Rangirkhal as well as Mahisa beel the accumulated excess rain waters and waste materials do not get flushed out. Both Rangirkhal and Mahisa beel are the passage for the flow of excess waters during rain which ultimately drain out in Ghagra river.

 The Rangirkhal drains out the waters of 6 to 28 number wards. For the improvement and clearance of the khal, the Parishad has been pressing on the Municipal Board repeatedly. Three years ago, after the Parishad moved the mechanical division of water resources department here, the clearance of Rangirkhal was taken up with the help of amphibian dredger. This could make some improvement in the flow of water. After that it was back to square one.

 The Parishad has made it clear that the total improvement of Rangirkhal is the absolute responsibility of the water resource department. Silchar Municipal Board has to create pressure on the WRD for taking up dredging work. Haridas Dutta, general secretary of the Parishad, has cautioned if Rangirkhal is totally blocked, it will sound death knell for the ever burgeoning population of this town. The Board should also have its own amphibian dredger. All the drains and the draige system have to be regularly kept under improvement.

 It is also surprising that a pump set costing Rs.47 lakh to flush out the rain water of Subhash gar has been lying idle in the compound of the Municipal Board. Owing to the delay in the installation of pump set, a large portion of this town remains submerged for days during monsoon. The Parishad makes fervent appeal to the Municipal Board to give priority to pump out the rain waters and let the citizens live in order and peace.