Sarma’s budget brings hope for denizens of Silchar

From Special Correspondent

Silchar, Feb 8: Apart from all the tits and bits, Himanta Biswa Sarma’s budget brings hope and cheer for the people of Silchar in particular and Barak Valley in general. The Minister of Health, Education and Fince, a popular face in this valley, has taken particular care of the hopes and feelings of the people. The burgeoning population and the regular traffic jam for years have virtually choked the residents of this town. rrow roads, ever increasing number of vehicles, ill planned high rise buildings, encroached pavements by hawkers all have added to the woes of road users, man and machine.

 It is after a long time that a budget with a difference presented in the Assembly by Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday has much to cheer about. If all goes well, BJP can claim to promise and implement and not end in false promises like Congress. In fact, one of the pressing demands from the citizens has been a flyover to tackle and overcome the problem of traffic jam. Flyover for this town was the electoral promise of the saffron party during the last civic and assembly elections.

The tax free budget which has been described as most bold and promising by the economic experts has come out with a slew of proposals for this valley. A mega flyover has been planned from Tarapur to Rangirkhari touching Premtala, the very heart of this town. Though Silchar has not been included in the ‘smart city’ of the Centre, the budget commits to upgrade the town as a city. For creating and improving the academic standard and ambiance of Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Rs.100 crore has been allotted. Rs.30 crore is provided for the current year.

From this month, Amrit Pharmacy is to start functioning. Rs.200 crore is allocated for infrastructure development of Silchar. Construction of houses under Prime Minister Urban Housing Yoja for which Rs.50,000 will be given as subsidy. A planetarium has been planned. For the renovation of District Library Auditorium, a sum of Rs.8 crore is allocated. Considering the number of legal cases and overburdening of courts here, besides voluminous pending of cases, fast track court is also proposed for Cachar district. A training centre for the employees of III and IV grades is also included in the budget.

Dr. Sarma revealed the work for the construction of Karimganj Engineering College is moving at speed. A high level committee is to be set up to examine all aspects for the establishment of a ‘Mini Secretariat’ in Barak Valley. Most important, as promised by Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal and Fince Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, work on the construction of Swami Vivekanda Cultural and Research Centre is making satisfactory progress. There is enough cause of happiness for Silchar MLA and Deputy Speaker, Dilip Kumar Paul, who is virtually emotiolly overwhelmed by the concern for Silchar for Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma. So are happy all the MLAs and the people.