SILCHAR, May 13 � Back in 2013, when the town witnessed a series of protest on waterlogged roads, former chairperson of the Silchar Municipal Board, Susmita Dev had said, �I want to bring an end to this waterlogging problem and help the people with a permanent solution.� But the first pre-monsoon rains for the last few days have brought the town to a standstill with massive waterlogging in several parts without any solution to the recurring problem.
The low lying areas of the town, especially the Sonai Road, the National Highway and other locations, were waterlogged putting the denizens in great difficulty. Many schools have to be closed as water entered in the classrooms.
The second largest urban sprawl in the State had witnessed a series of protests across the city over the the waterlogging problem. Ahead of the monsoon this year too disgusted citizens under the banners of the All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students� Association (ACKHSA) and the Church Road-Jail Road Development Committee raised voice against waterlogging that has been going beyond proportions. The BJP too joined in the chorus and slammed the civic board�s inaction.
The ACKHSA members disallowed the interim chairperson Bijendra Prasad Singh and other civic board officials from entering the office and gave a 72-hour deadline to solve the problem. The student body�s representative Rupam Nandi Purkayastha said that because of the reluctance of the board to clear the drains filled with trash, water has overflowed and entered the homes and schools. He said if the board does not respond to the demand, the consequences will be bitter.
Taking a dig at the Congress-led civic board, Sashankha Shekhar Paul of the Nagarik Swartha Sangram Parishad said that the board has not been able to provide the people even the basic amenities of living a healthy life. He added that the board lacks proper planning of drainage clearance and is only fooling the people with fake promises.
BIJ leader of opposition in the board, Dilip Paul said that the civic body becomes busy when roads are under water. �It is true, the board is doing a lot of things across the town using the funds. But all those are largely irrelevant as the drainage is largely exposed to waterlogging every year. The board must come out with a concrete solution immediately clearing the canals of the wastes so that the water can flow seamlessly,� Paul said.
Samir Kumar Das, principal of Narsing Higher Secondary School, which is in its centenary year, has written to the Deputy Commisioner, Cachar citing the problem of waterlogging inside the school and has urged him to take immediate measures for its solution. It is to be noted that the school has been kept closed since Friday last as most of the classes are under water.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commisioner GM Hazarika has convened a meeting with the concerned departments and has ordered to clear the encroachment along the canals Rangirkhal and Longaikhal within seven days for smooth movement of water. The Deputy Commisioner has also sought cooperation from the municipal board in this initiative.
