Dear Editor,
Even after being gifted with so many natural beauties of flora and fauna, mountains and rivers, the state capital is dirty, crowded and noisy. There are tons of garbage lying along the roads, no proper waste management system, overloaded road, and haphazard constructions all around.
The most disgusting is the terrifying traffic, which is a direct product of mismanagement by our government. The government, which is hyperactive and doing the best on social media, seems be doing nothing at ground level. A 10-minute journey is stretched to hours. At an average, a daily traveller wastes 1-3 hours in the traffic every day. You can imagine the mental state of that person easily. Now it is fearful even to think of going out. A mere 15-16 kms of road, and yet the restoration and rebuilding is going on since decades.
Nitin Gadkari, the union minister for highway, said, “A good road is right of every citizen as it gives healthy life and peace of mind.” Because of the capital’s severely ill road, the people are mentally sick and disturbed. The capital road is nothing more than an added tension for travellers.
Even if we manage to dodge the traffic, the next annoying problem is parking place. One has to drive extra miles to find a good parking spot.
For a person living in a place like Pasighat, this is pure mental trauma. You will see vehicles colliding, fines being imposed, and some even demand “pure new car” even for a minor scratch. The road is so congested that accidents are likely to occur.
More annoying is when our MLAs honk horns, demanding a clear pass for their vehicles in such conditions. “Raasta banata nahi, rasta mangta hai,” the common man cries.
We, the citizens, keep abusing the elected government about such problems, gossiping and talking casually with kith and kin. Have we ever raised this issue seriously with the government? The reply is a big no.
The voters are dumb and falsely satisfied with what and how they are. We are happy with what they are giving. Its high time the voters started questioning and demonstrating protests to give them a wake-up call. It is high time we fought for our basic rights. Alas, the capital-wallahs are fast asleep, forgetting the real scenario.
The government should also stop taking the public for granted and needs to act on this rapidly growing trauma. It should remember that when the public wakes up, it will give them a fitting reply.
Finally, what saddens me more is the shut mouth of our student unions (AAPSU, ANSU) who act as the voice of the common public here.
Sincerely,
Biku Jaipu, Pasighat