admin
admin
|
 |
A mess called Barak Valley [from statesman]
«on:
05/03/04 at 00:59:21 » |
|
From http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=14&theme=&usrsess=1&id=42083
A mess called Barak Valley
By Bishway Chamak Goswami
Many Indians have problems identifying the North-east of India even 56 years after Independence. They would be completely stumped if asked to locate the Barak Valley. Not many would know that it is part of Assam, although dominated by Bengali speakers. Surrounded by mountains from all three sides, the valley is also cut off geographically from the rest of region.
In addition to the natural isolation, there is a man-made side: little infrastructural work has been done over the last decades and life is miserable at every step. Despite rich natural resources, the valley remains economically underdeveloped due to New Delhi’s lack of interest and stepmotherly treatment from Dispur, Assam’s capital.
The leaders of the day have little vision on questions relating to development and work more for their own interests and those of their coteries. The district administration is packed with officials pandering to the whims of these “leaders”. Successive ruling parties in the state have shown little sensibility or sensitivity about development here. Funds allotted for the valley were diverted and used elsewhere in Assam and the results are most visible in the infrastructural mess. Despite all the promises made in this and previous elections, the conditions remains unchanged. Here’s a checklist of the condition of basic services:
Roads: The national highways connecting the Valley have been the prime arterial routes to other parts of the North-east and the rest of India. At present, some of these have collapsed for want of proper maintenance after being battered by torrential rain in the summers. The main thoroughfares have been in a dilapidated condition for years. Many manholes on busy Silchar streets are open, posing a danger to pedestrians and road traffic. Inadequate road networks have also led to higher transportation costs and caused price hikes of consumer necessities.
Broad gauge Conversion: In 1996, the Centre decided to introduce broad gauge service from Silchar to Lumding. In January 1997, then Prime Minister IK Gujral laid the foundation of the proposed line at Silchar. Silchar is the point of access to Mizoram and Tripura. But work on the project has been very slow for the last seven years and there is even a dispute over compensation over land between the people of Cachar and North Cachar Hills.
There’s also a problem over the construction of 21 proposed tunnels. Till January 2004, 19 tenders have been called, but no contract has been finalised. For the largest tunnel (about 3 km long), a global tender should be floated, but no initiative in this direction has been taken. Moreover, extortion by armed gangs continues, putting off many contractors who are unwilling to work at such risk.
There are efforts to include the Lumding-Silchar broad gauge line conversion in the national project and speed up work.
Agriculture: The region is among the six most agricultural productive zones of Assam. But farmers don’t extract maximum output due to lack of technical expertise. The problems are aggravated by the absence of adequate irrigation facilities, lack of training of farmers and underdeveloped transportation network.
Small-scale industry: An important mainstay of the rural economy is handicrafts. Handloom is a major cottage industry in South Assam. More than 1.6 lakh workers are currently employed in this field in Barak Valley. Their fine indigenous crafts are undercut by poor government funds and their own poverty.
Drinking Water: The Public Health Engineering Department water storage plant at Silchar has two pipes nearby discharging filthy water. Less than 100 m from the plant is the immersion area, also the dumping ground of garbage for the entire neighbourhood! Human and animal waste contaminates river waters and water supply pipes are old and inefficient, creating a serious health threat.
One bright side, however, is the work of Deshbandhu Club, an NGO, which organises camps and seminars for public consciousness on issues as health, education, child welfare and economic development. Deshbandhu is also involved in rural road construction and working towards the improvement of basic civic amenities.
Despite all this, there are few alternatives to people’s participation in their own governance, as the above details have shown, and getting tough with their elected leaders.
|
| | |
|
Author