Barak Valley craving
for development
By A City Correspondent , Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Feb 10 – The North East Congress Co-ordination Committee has sought the attention and immediate intervention of the party’s national leadership to some of the problems of Barak Valley.
The general secretary of the committee, Sharif Uz Zaman Laskar said that Barak Valley – comprising three districts with a population of 40 lakhs – constitutes an important part of Assam but even after six decades of Independence the place has remained underdeveloped and neglected.
“The Barak Valley is not only the main gateway to the States of Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura, but as it is strategically located, it works as the lifeline of almost half of the North Eastern region,” said Laskar.
Laskar further said that developmental works should be started without delay in Barak Valley and to begin with, the Lumding-Silchar-Jiribam railway line has to be converted from meter gauge to broad gauge. “If security is a concern the project should be completed under the protection of the national security forces,” said Laskar.
It may be mentioned here that the committee has been insisting for conversion of the railway lines since long in view of the fact that once completed, the railway line would act as a catalyst of development not only for the Barak Valley but also for entire Assam and its neighbouring States.
The committee has also been demanding for an alternative highway from Silchar to Guwahati via Harangajao reasoning that the alternative would remove the continued uncertainties of the existing Silchar-Guwahati road, which often remains closed due to natural calamities like landslide and other disruptions.
On the other hand, the committee has demanded for opening a new waterway from Silchar to Kolkata via Bangladesh asserting that the water route would be the easiest means of carrying essential commodities. Incidentally this waterway existed during the British rule and the committee has stressed that the same be revived.
The committee has submitted a memorandum to the national leadership demanding early completion of the Tipaimukh Dam on the Barak River.
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