Guwahati city facing interplay of bomb blasts and floods

Guwahati city facing interplay of bomb blasts and floods

Guwahati city is called as the gateway of entire North east. People from all over the region reside or come here for occupational, educational and commercial or legal reasons It is also important for many medical necessities.

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But, in spite of all these factors government has failed to give basic security to the residents as well as visitors. The recent bomb blasts in Guwahati on the first day of New Year that is on 1st january 2009 in Birubari, Bhangagarh and Bhootnath area of the city clearly displayed the pathetic condition of security in our city.

Reports always say ’75 killed in Bomb Blast’ or ‘300 injured’. But, behind that two digit or three digits number there is unending tears, pain, helplessness, agony of many innocent families.

The blasts which took place were mostly at crowded places. How is it possible for someone to plant a bomb? This is nothing but failure of security. If you move out in the city you will find police check posts at different locations. They will check all-----right from passer byes to scooterists to bikers. Sometimes they will even check other private vehicles. If these checks are so genuine than how is it possible for the terrorists carry bombs along? Are security check ups just a belief make belief world to showcase so called ‘security concern’ for the common man?

How can that be a sudden happening? It was nothing but pre-planned by the terrorists. Has our security system failed so drastically that it could not detect such incident beforehand? Why no measure was taken earlier to detect any such planting of instantly? That is to say, there are many scientific devices which could have installed places at vulnerable or crowded areas. There may also be devices which which can easily indicate if someone plants a bomb. Even CCTVs could have been used at crowded places, not only during festivals but also other normal working days. But, such measures were not taken.

Why security of common man is so much threatened? It is we who caste our valuable votes so that a party wins to form government. We expect them to be someone who is by the people, for the people and of the people. But, alas!

You will find ministers moving around the city using hi-tech security. Even if you (as common man) is going out for an urgent piece of work, you will fall into huge traffic jam. It might be because some minster might be going along the same street. After he or she will go than only the road will be cleared for you.

So, if their security is so much important than why not our security? Are we not the one who has entitled the people in power the privileges?

Though this case is not pointed to one party alone. But, it is for all party who has come into power.

Another issue that is faced by the people of Guwahati is the problem of flood or water logging. Come shower and in Guwahati are sure to face this problem. You get ready to ‘wade’ along the water logged streets. Buses stop plying and rickshaws refuse to move. You move along without knowing when you will reach home. It is mainly because of the improper drainage facility in the city. A number of unplanned housing complexes and flats are being constructed without thinking that it may affect the drainage system. As these constructions are increasing, the said problem is deteriorating.

During this calamity, how many politicians would come down from their posh car along with the public to walk along the water logged streets or footpath? How many of them will say that they will face whatever public is facing, through thick and thin? How many of them could claim that they are ‘people’s politician’.

This issue of water logging has been the agenda of many political parties since time immemorial. But, agenda remained as good as fiction and never reality.

People suffer from such problem day in and day out. But, there is no solution yet.For us as a public, it is high time to utilize our right, that is, Right to Information. Government must answer to the people for their incapacity. It is true that within a couple of years a number of developments have taken place in Guwahati, in the context of its beautification. But, beauty without security is just like an artificial banyan tree without roots. Luxuries should not take over necessity.

Government ought to understand that it is for us they are in power. Their responsibility also goes beyond elections. We now need a leader who is a man of knowledge, wisdom and virtue---this is not only for Guwahati, but all of Assam and India.