Irresponsible officers to make good the loss

When it comes to criticism, we always maintain that when we criticize any state government department we do so for its pondering and then taking certain corrective steps. When we notice certain glaring loopholes in the functioning of important departments like – Water Resource, Agriculture and Food and Civil Supplies we are prompted to say that all the ministers holding the said portfolio happen to be from the Asom Gana Parisad (AGP). Instead of going to analyse their omissions and commissions pointing to them one wrong after another, our focus now is on Keshab Mahanta, Minister Water Resource Development. We could notice his aptitude (?) and exertion in completing the repairing works of the breached embankments. Here is yet another instance – recently the minister came to Dibrugarh to take a on-the-spot view of the unprecedented artificial flood situation of the town. He held a meeting in the Circuit House with the big officials and contractors of the department (Water Resource) and then he visited certain areas like Mohanaghat, Phul Bagan- to have a cursory look on the Brahmaputra. Then he went back without meeting the flood-affected people and those in the relief camps – if newspaper reports are anything to go by. After he went away, our competent DC could unveil the truth behind this unprecedented artificial flood. Here again, we could notice the works of a department not worth reckoning with our minister at the helm of affairs. In the Mothola area, Rohmoria of the few sluice gates one remained open through which water from the big river after inundating the adjoining tea gardens, gushing towards Dibrugarh after crossing Maijan to inundate almost all the town areas. We affected people want that the officials responsible for the catastrophe befalling Dibrugarh should be punished. Will these irresponsible officers of the Water Resource Department make good the loss suffered by the people of Dibrugarh?

Ashok Bordoloi,

Dibrugarh