Villagers Approach CM Sarbananda Sonowal With Slew of Demands

Special Correspondent

Silchar: The villagers of three assembly constituencies of Sonai, Udharband and Lakhipur have approached Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal after exploring other channels for the resolution of their long pending demands, mainly centering round connectivity and the chronic problem of erosion by river Barak. In a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister and submitted through the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar on Wednesday, the inhabitants blamed the authorities concerned for ignoring their dire need of a bridge over river Barak at Shilghat which besides facilitating easy and faster movement would be an effective means of surface communication for the large population of the constituencies in question.

On their demand for the bridge, the signatories to the memorandum said it has been on their agenda since 1951 and the voice of people in these years has only become stronger and louder for it. Assurances after assurances have come from successive Chief Ministers of Assam as well as from the Union Ministers of Road and Highways, but all these have melted into thin air. Now, they have pinned their hope on Sarbananda Sonowal who assured the Silghat bridge demand committee twice on February 12, 2017 and October 3, 2018 of positive action. It was followed by their representations to the Deputy Commissioner of Cachat and the SDO Civil of Lakhipur sub division.

But, till date, there has been no response from any corner, lamented the demand committee. In view of the unresponsive attitude and stand of the Chief Minister and other higher authorities, the Silghat bridge demand committee has decided to opt for mass democratic manner, strategy about which will be dawn up soon, pointed out Hanif Alam Mazumder, chief convener of the committee. They have given 15 days’ ultimatum for compliance of their demand, failing which Silchar-Imphal Highway 37 will face indefinite blockade, cautions the front -liners on the committee.

Other pressing demands raised in the memorandum include repair of PWD road from Binnakandie ghat to Silghat point via Singerband and Niz Rupaibali, completion of the construction of road from Hazarigam to Singerband Cooperative point, metal topping of road from NH 37 Puran Bazar point to Devabasti, dressing up of NH 37 Banskandi point to Bagehar and most importantly effective measures to contain erosion by Barak along Singerband part II and part V, Shivpur and Kandigram as well as Chandrapur. The demand committee has listed the dates of submission of memoranda to union ministers of roads, highways and shipping, MPs and MLAs of the areas in succession, besides the deputy commissioners of the district from February 1951 to October 2018.

Also Read: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal presents Sonitkonwar Gajen Baruah Award to Bhaben Bora

Also Read: Shortage of teacher in Sonari school | The Sentinel News | Assam News