Sangram Parishad offers suggestion to Cachar administration

 Special Correspondent

Silchar., Aug 8: Swatch Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister rendra Modi and also a prototype of it ‘Clean Assam Campaign’ by Tarun Gogoi seem to have failed to touch the citizens of this town who after initial interest and enthusiasm are again back to square one. Heaps of garbage and refuse pile up after the clean up operation by municipal board. By night, it is a common sight to see wastes from shops and even homes being thrown in and around the dustbins where these are placed.

 It was not long ago when shop keepers could be spotted at night after closing down their business interests at different locations to bring the scattered wastes at one place and set them on fire. This fervour too has ebbed. The district administration of Cachar has been carrying on awareness campaign at its own level to keep the city clean, but unless people themselves are responsive and responsible, nothing can change. Concerned at the lack of the sense of being clean and keep clean among the citizens, garik Swarthraksha Sangram Parishad (NSSP) has come out with six point suggestions before the Deputy Commissioner to initiate a set of actions to keep the town clean.

 Haridas Dutta, general secretary of the Parishad, related the experiences of a citizen of this town during his visit to Aizawl. Nobody could throw anything even an empty cigarette packet on the road side. He would definitely face not only rebuke but also confront with unpleasant reaction from the Mizos. This is what happened while he was walking through Aizawl road. It is a matter of pride for the Mizos that their capital is neat and clean. This sense of belonging to ‘my town’ is yet to generate here.

 Haridas Dutta said 4 years ago, Parishad distributed around a 100 HDP waste bins to way side tea stalls and pan shops from the Capital point to Rangirkhari as well as in Tarapur areas with request to the owners to advise their customers to throw the used cups into the bins. But, a good number of customers instead throw the cups outside the waste bins. It came as a great disappointment to all the members of the Parishad. It is well said ‘habit dies hard’ and therefore harsh action is called for as the only way to mend the incorrigible.

 The six point suggestions for the active consideration of the Deputy Commissioner include serving all shops and business establishments with notices for keeping waste baskets before their shops and the violators would face fine, spot fine by mobile team be realized from anyone found littering and stray cattle owners be subjected to pel punishment. Apart from that, notice be served on commercial and individual builders not to keep their construction materials along road side and Silchar municipality should start house to house collection of garbage according to the solid waste magement and handling rules – 2000.