Congress gimmickry, BJP's agenda of development

Special Correspondent

Silchar: People of Barak Valley could hardly forget how the 15 year rule of Congress led by Tarun Gogoi continued to feed them with lollipops in the name of development. Packages after packages promising financial bonanza of thousands of rupees for the valley turned out to be a hoax. Corruption became a password. With the installation of Sarbananda Sonowal government at Dispur, things started changing with emphasis on transparency and accountability. Roads and highways, lanes and by-lanes across the rural and urban areas have

undergone facelifts.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's concern for the valley could be understood from his 16 visits after assuming power. Equally serious has been Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, minister of finance, health and family welfare, PWD, transformation and development. One of the priorities has been communication without which development is not possible. Keeping this in mind, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma is coming here to inaugurate the newly constructed Rs. 60 crore Barak bridge on February 25 as the old bridge running parallel to it has developed many technical problems and not safe for use by vehicular traffic.

According to a BJP source here, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma will also lay the foundation stone of Rs.30 crore structure for the upgradation and modernization of Silchar district library auditorium.

Besides, he is also to lay the foundation stone of Rs.10 crore ground athletics running track with floodlight and stadium. After that, he will address a public meeting at Police Parade ground. Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma will also lay the foundation stone of yet another bridge next day over Barak at Itkhola ghat of this town which will connect the largest cluster of villages, Dudhpatil, on the other side of the river. On his agenda is also the inauguration of Kuchudaram model hospital under Sonai constituency.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is also expected to visit here on March 2 to lay the foundation stone of the proposed mini secretariat as was promised in the election manifesto of 2016 of the party. This would be a part of bringing both the valleys closer and open new vista of understanding and cooperation among different linguistic and cultural groups.

It would also be a part of decentralization of administration and to make the people in general aware of the various developmental schemes and projects. As reported earlier, it is for the first time that any state government has given serious thought for the protection and preservation of historical and religious places of this valley with tourism potential. Rs.50 lakh has been allocated for developing the historical Malegarh tilla as a tourist resort. It is here that the 200 mutineers broke through the Chittagong armoury and after looting arms and ammunitions headed towards Cachar where they had their first encounter with the British in 1857. 26 of the mutineers were killed who were laid to rest at Latu near Malegarh. As a mark of respect to them, the place will be beautified with necessary facilities for tourists visiting the spot.

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