GUWAHATI, March 20 - Political parties might put all their resources and energy for high voltage propaganda, but the issues that bother the people of greater Birubari area in Guwahati East constituency are rather the less talked about issues like bad roads and clogged drains.
For politicians, who show their faces on the eve of elections in every constituency, the politically conscious population of Birubari have kept track of the development taking place in different localities of the area.
�Whether we would vote for change or continuity this time, will entirely depend on the index of development. This time the voters are rather divided for and against the government on the basis of the condition of the RK Mission Road and improving the sewerage system in the area,� Nitya Sarkar, a private firm employee told The Assam Tribune.
Of the nearly 20,000 voters in the area, almost half are Bengalis and the main contest, like in other parts of Guwahati, is likely to be between the BJP and the Congress.
�People in general do not have any leanings towards a specific political party here. It is just the half done development project by the government which would determine how many people would vote for and against continuity,� observed Sarkar.
For years together, the people of this area have faced severe recurrent flash floods, due to its proximity to the Bharalu river. Residents in most of the colonies have the horrible experience of getting stuck up for a day or two due to water-logging.
The two-kilometre arterial road has remained in a dilapidated state for long. The road connects Rup Nagar, Kalapahar and Ulubari areas and can serve as an effective traffic diversion to ease the dreaded traffic snarls at Sarabbhhati point.
Things however, changed a little to the succour of the people when the drain reconstruction work was started after digging and de-siltation of the Bharalu river. �The entire length of the RKM Road starting from the point of Gahorikata to the point of Tripura Bhawan, has siltation that creates havoc during the monsoons. Since the drain reconstruction work has started on a massive scale in and around Birubari, people are hopeful of getting some respite during the monsoon season this year,� said Dwijen Das, another resident of the area.
The locals of Birubari submitted several memorandums to the authorities, seeking steps to address the issue of discharge from the toilets of TB Hospital openly into the drains of Birubari. �Repairing the boundary walls of the TB Hospital and sealing its rear boundary wall are a must to stop discharge from the toilets from directly falling on the RKM Road,� added Das.
