Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a farce in North Lakhimpur

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR, April 18: At a time when the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has achieved a new dimension across the State as well as the country, a quite contradictory picture has been witnessed at Ward No. 10 of North Lakhimpur town. Piles of polythene waste matter and other garbage can be seen here and there in the ward, thereby creating a dirty environment in the entire ward. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan aims to clean up streets, roads and infrastructure of Indian cities, smaller towns and rural areas as well as to achieve an open defecation-free India by October 2, 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. With these objectives, though a large amount of fund has been spent in the district to create awareness on hygiene and cleanliness, all these attempts seem futile in the mentioned ward.

The internal road sides within the ward have become heavy with non-degradable polythene waste matter and household garbage. The polythene waste has blocked the poor drainage system further. On the other hand, internal road communication within the ward is dilapidated, proving that no developmental activities have been taken up by the North Lakhimpur Municipal Board. Such a hazardous condition can also be seen near Ward No. 11, going through the Hazi Soneswar Baruah Path from the KB Road and from the Malpani Chariali of the town. Though the Lakhimpur Deputy Commissioner Dr Jeevan B has instructed the district departments to keep their office campuses clean, initiatives to keep the town clean have not been taken, local people alleged.

The nodal agencies of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and other voluntary and public organizations have completed their cleaning campaign by just sweeping the main streets for publicity without going into the interior areas of the town.