DIBRUGARH, Jan 17 � Unprecedented illegal encroachment of public spaces, footpaths and roads in the city was one of the main topics of discussion at the recently held annual general meeting of the Dibrugarh Nagarik Sangha (DNS). Agitated members of the group said they expect the Government machinery to take speedy remedial steps to curb the menace.
The AGM of the DNS was held on January 10 last with senior advocate Jogendra Nath Borah in the president�s chair. Members of the Sangha expressed their dismay that despite news items published in the media and public complaints made to the Government, no step has been taken to clear the city of encroachments. Most of the encroachments are by businessmen, vehicle garage owners, vehicle dealers, nursing homes, fruit vendors, hardware merchants, grocers, food and paan vendors, etc. Another cause for concern was the use of the roads as permanent vehicle garages by residents in the New Market areas and its many roads and lanes.
There was a suggestion that if any vehicle owner does not have a parking space for his/her car, that person should not be allowed to buy/own a car.
The meeting discussed several other pressing issues of the city at length. At the end of the discussion, 11 resolutions were adopted. These have been forwarded to the relevant authorities in the State Government and the Dibrugarh district administration for speedy redressal.
Among the more notable issues was the demand to re-introduce city buses in the city, enforcing discipline among the three-wheeler public transporters, construction of a proper car parking enclave along the city�s RK Bordoloi Road, facilitating citizens with better public service amenities, and strict implementation of building laws. DNS members said the rampant construction of multi-storey apartment blocks would cause severe water-logging and drainage problems and also cause a severe strain on the city�s groundwater table, triggered by massive groundwater pumping to service the apartments.
In another significant resolution, the DNS asked the railway authorities to give a serious thought to de-congesting the busy Dibrugarh-Tinsukia-Makum rail-cum-road corridor. The suggestion given was that of re-positioning of some of the railway stations and a minor re-alignment of the tracks to enable some more widening of the National Highway 37 on the railway track side.
