AHRC takes suo motto case, asks DC and Guwahati Municipal Corporation to submit reports

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The AHRC (Assam Human Rights Commission) has asked the GMC (Guwahati Municipal Corporation) to spell out the reasons for the failure to maintain the roads in Guwahati and name the departments and persons responsible for such failures. The AHRC has asked the Kamrup (M) Deputy Commissioner and the GMC Commissioner to act on the direction of the Chief Minister and to submit a report on the action taken before the rights body.

The Rights body made this query to the civic body after taking suo motto cognizance of the several recent accidents that claimed many lives after falling in uncovered excavated pits left without barricades on Guwahati roads. The AHRC said, "The suo motto case is against the GMC for violation of the basic human rights of tax-paying citizens of Guwahati."

The Rights body cited the June 8, 2023, accident near Ganeshguri, where a class XI standard student, Priya Kumar, lost her life when the Scooty met with an accident near an open excavated pit. It also cited the accident at Mothgharia on July 21, 2023, in which Saurav Das fell on an excavated open pit. Das succumbed to his injuries on July 23. The Rights body said that the pit was left open for several days and covered only after the accident.

The ARHC expressed surprise as to how an excavated pit remained open on July 21 at Mothgharia even after the Chief Minister directed all deputy commissioners to fix up or barricade all dug-up pits in their respective districts by June 12, 2023.

The AHRC also asked the GMC to mention the names of agencies or departments like JICA, Jal Board, BSNL, etc. that have a role in digging up pits. It has also asked the civic body to name its officials responsible for the two accidents and their zones, besides giving details of procedures followed while granting permission for laying pipes, cables, etc.

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