PATACHARKUCHI, Sept 18 � A public meeting was held here on Tuesday to discuss the �hazardous construction� of the NH-31 and poor power supply. The meeting was attended by a large number of people and higher officials of the ASEB and the agency engaged in the road construction.
The meeting was organised under the aegis of the Ganesh Puja Celebration Committee. Munindra Narayan Goswami, senior citizen and social worker, conducted the meeting, while Rajen Das, assistant professor, NH College, anchored it. Dr Bhupesh Sarma, principal, NH College, Dr Tarun Chandra Bhagabati, associate professor, NH College, Hiren Sarma, chairman of the Patacharkuchi Town Committee, Mantu Kumar Sarma (junior), secretary of the Patacharkuchi Raas Festival Celebration Committee, Mantu Kumar Sarma (senior), president of the Raas Celebration Committee, Khanindra Nath Talukdar, principal of Patacharkuchi Vidyapith, and representatives of the Bazar Committee and various organisations of the locality expressed their views on the two issues in the meet.
People of the locality are facing problems due to the ongoing construction works on the NH-31, especially in the Pataharkuchi area. The highway has turned into an accident-prone area due to the irregular construction works by the firm engaged in the construction. Even after repeated appeals from various organisations of the locality, the firm has allegedly been indifferent due to which a number of accidents have already occurred in the locality. The incomplete drainage on both sides is a death trap for commuters. Due to this, there is waterlogging in the market area, causing a lot of suffering to the people, especially businessmen.
The passage to the girls� high school has not been properly completed. The overbridge and the bridge over the Kaladia river are still incomplete. The portion in front of the Patacharkuchi MPHC is not yet for communication too.
Officials of the firm engaged in the construction works on the highway gave a written assurance to the public that the works would be completed in a proper manner by November 15. Jagmohan Reddy, project manager of the firm concerned, and Sanjay Kumar gave the assurance.
On the other hand, Prabin Rabha, feeder maintenance manager, and Yahir Alam, assistant revenue manager, Pathsala subdivision, represented the ASEB in the meeting. The people stated their problems due to the irregular supply of electricity and long hours of loadshedding and demanded the equal distribution of power in Pathsala and Patacharkuchi. Some of them alleged that the ASEB gives less importance to Patacharkuchi and called for regular power supply in the small town.
The ASEB officials assured that the problem would be addressed. The public warned that if the ASEB fails to take positive steps within a short time, they would resort to a stringent agitation programme.
