Hawajaan (North Lakhimpur), Nov 26 - The welcome gate of Lakhimpur district from its west side on the inter-district border on NH-15 at Hawajaan is in dilapidated condition without any maintenance since its erection in 1996.
Constructed to mark the silver jubilee celebration of Lakhimpur district in 1996, the welcome gate was inaugurated on December 27, 1996, by then State Panchayaat Minister Sahidul Alam Chowdhury.
The gate, with two dragons that are fitted atop two pedestals on either side of the road, represents the inclusive cultural heritage of Assam with Tai and Satriya elements as well as folk Bihu engravings on both the pedestals.
The imposing pedestals have been welcoming visitors to the district from its western side on NH-15 since then. But no repair and any maintenance work has been done on the gate for the last 19 years. Not even any paint work has been done on this gate over the years.
As a result dirt and moss has gathered over various parts of the gate making them to look much worn out and neglected. Wild vegetation has also grown over the two pedestals of the gate while creepers are covering them from the ground.
While many modern day and contemporary monuments are well maintained everywhere and illuminated by electric lights in the night, the welcome gate of Lakhimpur district has been left to decay and wither since its inauguration almost twenty years ago. For that immediate repair and maintenance work is required to bring back the majestic appeal of the gate.
As Lakhimpur district is going to celebrate the golden jubilee of its inception in five years, making the silver jubilee gate to stand tall is very important before starting any new beautification projects in the district, the locals said.
