Civic problems plague historic Sivasagar town

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR, Dec 26: The historic town Sivasagar, the administrative headquarter of Sivasagar district, is fast losing its past glory. The turally planned and beautiful town, known for its historical monuments, has been a major attraction for domestic and foreign tourists over the years.

The town was considered to be a place of pilgrimage and it attracts pilgrims and tourists, but is now plagued with many civic problems like pitiable road conditions, garbage dumping, haphazard construction of building (residential and commercial), encroachment of the wetlands by a section of unscrupulous people, encroachment of footpath by some shopkeepers, poor maintence of parks and historical monuments by the authorities, stray pigs and cows causing awkward situations, uncountable three-wheelers and e-rickshaws plying and traffic jam. Having all potentials of tourism, the historic town of Sivasagar now presents a chaotic scerio due to lapses in maintaining the town’s civic facilities. The common people of the region no more find any joy in the town now.

Deep potholes can be seen in most of the connecting roads like BG Road, stretch of AT Road from Station Chariali to Darikapar, Bholath Kakoty Road, BP Chaliha Road, Dhonekho Road, Ganga Gobin Phukan Road and Khiznoor Ali Road due to which frequent road accidents are taking place.

There are about hundreds of rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws plying daily on these pathetic connecting roads. This apart, garbage dumping system in the town is not systematic. The common citizens are witness to dusty broken roads, unhygienic liquid leaking out along with contamited rainwater from the blocked draige system and broken culverts, the rotten garbage lying openly at the roadside at various places, which put together pose serious health hazards.

The conscious citizens, as well as various NGOs and social organizations, here have urged the authority concerned to address these grievances to restore the glory of the historic town.