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Now Barak Valley demands separate economic development council



Being disillusioned by top-level corruption and slow pace of development in the Barak Valley, the southern-most part of the Assam state, the people have now raised demands for a separate economic development council for the region. Under the banner of Barak Valley Economic Development Council Demand Committee, the Central committee President, Kishore Kumar Bhattacharjee along with Karimganj unit chief, Jyotirmoy Das, Hailakandi unit chief, Mahibur Rahman Choudhury and Cachar unit chief, Nimai Sarma, submitted a memorandum to Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi in Guwahati during first week of this month demanding construction and improvement of roads under the area and early completion of Silchar- Lumding Broad-Gauge railway line. The copies of the memorandum have also been sent to the Chief Secretary of Assam and National Presidents of major political parties. It has been learnt that the chief minister agreed to go through the text and progress of works and assured considering the demands sympathetically.


The committee recalled that the communication in Barak valley was in shabbles and the road conditions were in dilapidated condition and worst due to the sub-standard work. The roads constructed or renovated in the region do not last more than six months due to poor construction. As a result the people suffer immensely and are very aggrieved. There is only one life line connecting road NH 44 from Silchar to Guwahati via Meghalaya and the rest of the country through the high hill areas with zigzag road and the journey is very tiresome and risky. The thousands of people who travel through this route are the worst sufferer. The committee demanded that the NH 44 from Digorkhal to Karimganj via Kalain and Badarpur should be completed expeditiously.


The committee leaders reiterated that the Government of India sanctioned a National Project for setting up of Silchar Lumding Broad-Gauge railway line in the year 1996 and till now around 30 percent of the works are completed during last twelve years, which should be completed without further delay.


Among other demands the committee informed that the Union government sanctioned another project for construction of East-West corridor from Silchar to Saurashtra via Guwahati and although the work started six years back it was stopped midway in North Cachar Hills areas due to subversive activities.


The power supply in Barak valley is also in the worst condition and therefore the committee demanded adequate power supply for the region. Committee’s other demands include construction of barrage over River Barak and other rivers of Barak valley for flood containment, irrigation and production of Hydro-electrical energy. Demands included for improvement, modernization and extension of agriculture and irrigation facilities in Barak Valley. The charter of demands includes setting up of micro, small and medium industries in the area and modernization of tea industry. Besides, the demands also included a separate secretariat and circuit branch of Gauhati High Court and Administrative Tribunal for Barak Valley. Extension and development of fishery in Barak valley and development of tourism also included in the charter of demands.



Comments

Rebati Mohan Simha's picture

Recently, I been to Silchar,Hailakandi and Patherkandi in Karimganj district and saw the dilapidated condition of roads.While going to Shillong by road in Meghalayaya stae bus from silchar, I suffered a back-ache due to travelling on NH 44.In fact there was no sign of road till I reached Meghalaya border.Unless there is no good communication,there is no deveopment and it can be possible only when public raise their voice unitedly.Sorry to mention here that unity is not existing among ourselves.Corrupt politicians and Babus are taking undue advantage of public`s disunity.Only united voice can do miracle,separate Barak Valley Economic Development Council do very little.
H P Roychoudhury's picture

I was a student of Karimganj College. I know the area a little if not more. But even after 50 years of my vision I do not see any development. Now communication is the main sector which you have high lighted is extremely a necessity at the outset. After wards the other activity will follow. I appreciate your endeavor for the development of the region. I am nothing but a person of lip sympathy and nothing else. I can only express a sigh of despair and nothing else. The sigh of agony and despair is in my heart as the place had nurtured my teenage period. Besides this I draw your attention and comment to a topic ‘NGO of Diba Roy’Silchar which as follows(Published on line at Silchar): Sir, If you want to know who I am, you must go to my profile [H P Roychoudhury, Google.com or orkut]. I am already a retired person of Cotton College who retired from all walks of life at the age of seventy and now only things left for him to see the benefit of common people and wish to poke about against corruption. I know one Mrs. Diba Roy who is bringing lot of money in the name of NGO, Angoan Bari, Silchar under the patronage of many big persons who are linked with her through money and other affairs and spending money for personal benefit in purchasing property at her own and her children’s name. By the time she had purchased a Flat at Guwahati and purchased land at Kolkata, Bangalore, and Delhi. She used to go to America very often in disguise and spent NGO’s money under the carpet of son’s money. She is enjoying a luxurious car and petrol in the name of NGO. This is how a widow (who fought with her husband legal suits at Silchar for divorce and finally it is publicly heard that he had been killed by she in the International Hospital, Guwahati by the no-no supply of essential requirements of the treatment), is exploiting the society and cheating the young girls under the pretext of treatment of advise for AIDS. I strongly recommend enquiring the facts before further sanctions for money for NGO and auditing the all expenditure by bringing auditor from outside because all local auditors can be purchased by her with money easily. She had maintained a so called Office by employing the people of her own relation to siphon money at ease.

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