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Narengi-Noonmati area lacks basic civic amenities

By City Correspondent

GUWAHATI, June 5 - The Narengi-Noonmati area located in the eastern part of the city, which is an entry point to the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Mayong, is yet to have a full-fledged public toilet.

According to locals, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) had earlier planned to set up a full-fledged toilet in this area with an aim to meet the need of tourists, but due to various reasons the project is yet to be implemented.

�In 2014, the GMC had proposed to set up a full-fledged toilet at Narengi in the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode in collaboration with the Indian Oil Corporation Limited. For the project, the GMC prepared a budget of Rs 10 lakh. But unfortunately, the project remains pending till today,� said Pitambar Joshi, a concerned citizen of the locality.

Even though the place has immense importance from the tourism point of view, the GMC and other line departments lay very little emphasis on upgrading civic facilities in the area, Joshi alleged.

�Most of the drains in this area have not been desilted by the GMC for a long time. When we approached the contractor concerned, he stated that the GMC has not cleared his bills pending for the last 16 months. If such a situation continues, then within one month severe waterlogging will take place in this area. On top of that, huge volumes of garbage are dumped in the drain connecting Bamunimaidan and Bondajan. If the GMC does not take any timely action then severe waterlogging will take place in Silpukhuri and Chandmari areas too in the coming days,� Joshi cautioned.

Referring to other civic issues, he said, �The process of implementation of the water supply project in the city in the form of laying of pipes has destroyed the road condition in the entire area. Especially, the Bhupen Hazarika Path has been severely damaged due to the project. Several schools are located along this road and the pathetic condition of the road is giving a tough time to all.� Joshi informed that most of the government schools of this area have no water supply facilities.

Street dogs also pose a serious threat to the residents. �This area is home to more than a thousand stray dogs. Pedestrians are more vulnerable to the canines, especially after dark as there are no proper streetlights. We have already given applications to the GMC to install streetlights on every road, but are yet to get any positive response,� he said.

Another nagging problem facing the area is that the students from the marginalised class who had recently passed the HSLC and Higher Secondary examinations, are finding it difficult to procure the income certificates as the post of the official (mandal) who gives these certificates, has remained vacant for many days.

Kishore Deuri, a businessman of Noonmati informed that lack of proper parking area becomes a serious problem for all members of the public who visit the area. This hampers business activities, he added.

Jiten Patgiri, an office-bearer of the Noonmati Nagarik Samiti alleged that all departments concerned of the city have failed to develop the area. Most of the poor people of the area are yet to get their land patta despite residing there for decades.

�We are yet to avail the benefits of government water supply scheme and good roads. Even the Guwahati Refinery stopped spending money for development of this area during the last few years. Again, in recent times, implementation of the Guwahati water supply project has destroyed many roads,� Patgiri said.

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