GUWAHATI, June 1 - The Salbari area adjacent to the Guwahati Refinery campus, is yet to come under the drinking water supply network set up by the State government.
Speaking on the issue, Jiten Patgiri, president of the Salbari Kendriya Unnayan Samiti said, �Our main problem is the crisis of drinking water. It is a hilly area and there is no water supply from any government agency. So for many families, natural water bodies like streamlets are the only sources from which to collect water on a daily basis. To do this some people have to walk long distances.�
Patgiri stated that due to the depletion in the level of groundwater, the crisis of water is becoming severe day by day. The problem has become so critical over the last five years that some people were forced to set up borewells to extract groundwater.
Even though the main road in the area is in quite good condition, most of the bylanes are in pathetic condition.
According to Patgiri, during the rainy season, most of the bylanes wear a worse look as they are yet to come under the repair scheme of any government agency.
Moreover, although the area is located very close to the Noonmati Police Station, frequent cases of theft and looting pose a serious threat to the residents.
�Theft is another serious issue for us. From Nepali Chowk to Swahid Nagar and Chandanpur, thefts and looting are common crimes. Miscreants sometimes burgle households even during the daytime when no one is at home,� Patgiri told The Assam Tribune.
It has also been alleged that illegal sale of drugs and local country liquor has polluted the social life in this area. Many tend to question the role of the police in this connection.
�Some people sell local country liquor openly very close to the main road. Sometimes police do seize the illicit substance, but the men in uniform have not yet been able to put an end to the illegal trade. Similar is the case with illegal drugs,� sources said.
Meanwhile, Patigiri stated that illegal parking of buses on the main road during the night creates problems in the movement of common people. �We have moved the authorities concerned but are yet to get any relief from the nuisance,� he added.
Earlier, landslide used to be a very common incident in this area during the rainy season, but strict vigil by the district administration has of late brought the problem to a halt, especially near the main road. But earth cutting still continues in some interior places of the area.
