Funds for Barak Valley tourism project sanctioned

CORRESPONDENT Karimganj, Nov 29 – Aimed at developing and promoting tourism in the Valley, the State Tourism Corporation has sanctioned Rs 14.93 lakh for building infrastructure around Ramnagar Anua near Silchar.

The project includes construction of concrete ground around the bank of the Anua and to take necessary steps for improvement of the environment. Union Minister Santosh Mohan Dev recently laid the foundation stone of the project.

The Minister was hopeful that with the invitation of this project the tourism potential of Ramnagar with its ecofriendly natural surroundings would get a boost to attract visitors and tourists and the people around would be benefited. The development plan also envisages a floating restaurant that will enable the tourists to enjoy the scenic beauty of the place.

Deputy Commissioner Cachar Gautam Ganguly said after the infrastructure is built and completed by December 31, the floating restaurant could become operational.
Apathy resented: The stepmotherly attitude of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi towards Barak Valley is creating problems for the Valley.

The Assam Government is not keen on developing the Valley. While addressing a gathering at Dholai, Silchar district Congress committee president Karnendu Bhattacharjee raised such an allegation against the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government.

Earlier, Union Minister Dev expressed his anguish over the public criticism that he is not doing enough for Barak Valley. ‘I am still targeted as a nonperformer’, he pointed out. Among his achievements he cited the Cachar Cancer Hospital, the ongoing BG conversion, East West Corridor, flood lighting of Silchar DSA, tunnel at Sonapur on NH-44, among others.

Former MP (R S) and district Congress committee president Bhattacharjee directly condemned the activities of Dinesh Prasad Goala, Minister, Town and Country Planning and Gautam Roy, Minister, Excise and Border Area Development for not standing behind or supporting the development efforts and works of Union Minister SM Dev. To be specific, Karnendu Bhattacharjee referred to the solo efforts of S M Dev to get Rs. 63 crore sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Surface Transport and Highways after much hardwork in Delhi for improvement of network of roads in Silchar and six other constituencies of Cachar.

But as Bhattacharjee pointed out, obstacles were being created at Dispur in the release of the fund and implementation of the project. ‘It is Goala and Roy who are responsible for the problem’, he said. He also revealed that 27 MLAs are objecting to the release of funds for Cachar.
The Union Minister said he got money sanctioned from the Centre and added it is the responsibility of the State to see that work is done against the allotted fund. He disclosed that he has impressed upon the Prime Minister for sanctioning a special assistance fund for improvement of major roads, lanes, by-lanes and drainage system of both urban and rural areas. The Prime Minister showed his benevolence by sanctioning Rs 63 crore, added Dev.source: assam tribune