City Correspondent
GUWAHATI, April 2: With the third phase of the Assembly polls nearing, safe drinking water supply, roads, waste management and waterlogging are the four main civic issues, which the city residents feel must be taken up in right earnest by their new representatives.
“Roads are in a very bad shape. The interior roads of the city need urgent attention. We do not know what the government and its agencies are doing. We will vote only for those who can assure us of a solution to this problem,” Dhrubajyoti Sharma, a resident of Kahilipara said.
Complaints about civic issues poured in when this correspondent spoke to a cross section of the people of the city.
When the Centre is focusing on water conservation and rainwater harvesting, renovation of traditional and other water bodies among others through the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, arranging potable water is a daily grind for many city residents, especially for those living in the hilly areas.
The residents of Madhabdev Nagar in Maligaon fetch water that drips from the hills into pits, to meet their needs. People, mainly the poor, depend on this water source throughout the year.
“We climb 20 feet up and down to fetch water. People who have money dig wells on their own to meet the crisis. But people like us still depend on only this source,” said Bishal Saha, a resident of the area.
“Every time during elections, the public representatives come and promise to solve the water problem. But nothing has changed as yet,” he added.
Another resident of Ulubari, Manik Bordoloi said, “We will vote for the person who we think is capable of solving our problems of bad roads, poor garbage disposal and sewerage system.”
“The main problem of our area is waterlogging. We have been witnessing waterlogging for years due to the clogged drains. A spell of rain can create artificial flooding in our area,” said Manoj Bora of Ghoramara area, adding that a solution to the problem should be of utmost priority.
