Susmita, Rumi new hope for problem-ridden Barak Valley

SILCHAR, July 31: Susmita Dev, MLA of Silchar, and Rumi Nath, MLA of Borkhola, of Cachar have become active in the capital of the nation, New Delhi, for the last few days, making bids in their own way in the corridor of power for ensuring fund and pace up development schemes and projects of this valley. Their lobbying, though separately, notwithstanding their identical political affiliation, has raised hopes among the people of this valley abouttheir efforts to get necessary allocations of money against specific projects taken up by them.
According to reports, Susmita Dev metPabon Singh Ghatowar, DoNER Minister, and placed before him the proposal for a new bridge over river Barak, parallel to the existing one which has developed cracks and is considered unsafe in future. It was a proposal, not new, endorsed by Ajanta Neog, PWD Minister of Assam. She pleaded with the DoNER Minister for giving sanction to the proposal after explaining to him in details the importance of the bridge which provides links of this valley with DimaHasao district, Manipur and Kumbhirgram Airport, besides a passage for the vast populace of the northern areas of the valley. She demanded Rs 60 crore for the new bridge and apprised the Union Minister that for the repair of old bridge, Rs 7 crore was lying with PWD (NH Division). She also took up the issues of Silchar-Lumding BG and East-West Corridor. The Minister assured her that he would soon visit the valley and hold meetings with theofficials concerned with BG and Mahasadak.
Not to lag behind, Rumi Nath too had meeting with the DoNER Minister and broadened her charter of demands not only for expeditious completion of BG and East-West Corridor but also for the improvement of National Highways- 44, 53 and 54, besides laying equal emphasis on the new bridge over Barak, network of roads in shambles across the valley as well as the important Silchar-Kalain road link, a vital access for her Borkhola constituency. He assured her that he would visit Barak, hold discussion with all the ministers, MPs and MLAs on development issues. He however did not specify any date for his visit.
Susmita Dev at the same time took up with the Union Urban Development Minister Kumari Shailza while attending a meeting of the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Ministers of the country at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. Also present at the meeting was Ajanta Neog, PWD and Urban Development Minister of Assam. At the request of Susmita, Silchar was included under the pilot project for the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme for the homeless people livingin the urban areas.
It was the public opinion that both the MLAs should have met the DoNER Minister jointly and made their submissions before him in order to impress upon him more effectively forallocation of funds for the important projects of BG and Mahasadak connectivity, the fate of which has always been shrouded in uncertainty due to the half hearted approach of the State Government of Assam. However, it is now to be seen how far their efforts yield results. (SentinelAssam)

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