Erosion, poor connectivity, bad road work irk Silchar residents

FROM OUR Special

Correspondent

Silchar, May 8: The serious problem of heavy erosions caused by river Jatinga along the areas of Jatinga-Daspara under Chechri GP in Borkhola assembly constituency, threatening human settlements and agricultural lands has been brought to the notice of the MLA of the area, Kishore th. After taking a round of the erosion affected areas and the damages caused to human habitations, the MLA did assure of all possible help to move the water resource department for adopting preventive measures. His assurance came in a public meeting convened by Grahak Suraksha Samiti on Saturday.

 Apart from the problem of erosion, residents have been agitated over yet another problem of repair and improvement of Silchar-Jaintia road, the only connectivity for the people. There has been large scale irregularities in the execution of the works under PWD (rural). Besides, the problem of safe drinking water has also been a major irritant for the residents. The PHE has shown a totally indifferent approach to mitigate the problem. Caught in the zebra of problems, a public meeting called at Jatinga-Dasgram decried the role of PHE and PWD to set things right.

 Moreover, people of the cluster of villages of Chechri GP also face arbitrary manner of treatment from the lessee of Jatinga ferry-ghat to transship people across the river by charging whimsically. The helpless people have no media to air their grievances except to digest them in silence. Quite sad, no action is taken against those involved in improvement and repair works of the 2200 metre long road for messing up the allotted funds. The work is below quality and there is also public allegation of open misappropriation of funds allotted.

 According to a senior resident, Rs.1.5 crore was allotted under Chief Minister’s Special Package Programme during 2014-15 for the improvement of 3.70 km of Silchar-Jaintia road from Chechri point to Borkhola Bazar. The work was to be completed with CC blocks by the contractor concerned. Within 8 months of the completion of the work, side bims have collapsed. The entire work has been executed without following the specifications laid down. The sustaibility of this vital link is under cloud.

 Concerned people of the area are also apprehensive that this will also be the fate of the work being carried out on the road from the point of the house of Dhanjoy Das to Chechri. GSS demands thorough probe into the serious allegations raised by the people about the repair work on both the roads. In this regard, the Samiti has decided to submit a memorandum to Parimal Suklabaidya, Minister of PWD, Excise and Fisheries, for initiating necessary action against those involved in misuse of public funds for development.