Various problems faced by the residents of Dhemaji town were discussed in a citizens’ meeting organised at the Public Auditorium here on Sunday.
Addressing the meeting, Dhemaji MLA Dr Ranuj Pegu lamented that the people do not take care of the public property considering it as ‘government assets’, which is fueling the problems in the societies.
He appealed to the people to change their mindset and take care of the public property as their own and help the authorities maintain the public property.
“Irresponsible attitude of the parents over their children, lack of social responsibility among the elite society members and unruly behaviour of the youths have created many problems in the society. But it is time to keep restraint through collective efforts,” Pegu observed.
MLA Pegu said that the township dwellers and people hailing from other places are facing acute problems at Dhemaji in case of traffic movements, markets and garbage disposals and disposal of stagnant water in the township, etc. due to lack of proper planning and management policies.
The MLA also feared that there might be traffic snarl in Dhemaji town after opening of Kareng-Bogibeel Road-cum-Road Bridge in December this year. He has requested the people to suggest measures through proper discussions and negotiations with the experts to get rid of the burning problems.
Speaking on the occasion, retired professor Sarbeswar Chutiya suggested the officials of Dhemaji Town Development Authority (DTDA) and Dhemaji Town Committee Councillors to take up proper plans to dispose heaped garbage from the market places and also reconstruct the drains.
He also laid stress on proper management of the weekly and daily markets in the township.
Senior journalist Dilip Hazarika in his speech laid stress on shifting of the weekly market and restricting of the drains and nallas in the township besides construction of by-pass of National Highway-15 passing through Dhemaji town for traffic regulation, while Dipen Bhitorwal Konwar suggested conducting proper survey to flush out stagnant water in the township.
Referring various problems faced by the local residents, senior citizen Muhi Borgohain, former Town Committee chairman Bhabish Dihingiya, Asom Jatiyotabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad leader Ratul Borgohain and many others suggested alternative measures to solve the problems and asked the people to come out with proper ideas for greater interests of the township development.
The discussions included construction of public auditorium having 1000 sitting capacity, development of car parking place, regulation of traffic movement during puja and other special occasions, revival of public bus stand within the township.
The meeting finally resolved to prepare a five-year action plan to develop the township with proper management policy. The people also requested the MLA to move for fund against the construction schemes and management works.
Among others, Dhemaji Additional Deputy Commissioner SK Das, Dhemaji Town Development Authority chairman Tulan Konwar and Town Committee chairman Hema Doloi, local media persons and others attended the meeting.