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Kudos to the crowd
The credit for the successful hosting of the India-Pakistan one-dayer at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati should go as much to the organisers and the district administration as to thousands of cricket fans.
The bitter experience of India-England match in 2006 remained a rankling sore and the biggest worry before the match on Monday was crowd behaviour.
The violent reaction of the crowd a year ago after the match was called off because of unplayable ground condition shamed the city. But this time, the cricket fans were disciplined and yet enjoyed the match to the hilt.
The elaborate security arrangement did indeed help but without cooperation of the crowd, this would not have been possible.
However, there are a few things, which need to be resolved by the Assam Cricket Association. It needs to complete its exclusive stadium as soon as possible because the captains of the two teams were not happy with the outfield and the pitch. Secondly, it will also curb blackmarketing of tickets because of inadequate seats. A 35,000-capacity stadium will help solve the problem.
Hiranya Kalita
Chandmari
The state government’s decision to take over all primary schools in the tea gardens of Assam is a welcome move as there should be no compromise on primary education. The government had been running primary schools in Cachar and undivided Sivasagar districts since 1976-77.
The sorry state of the schools in tea gardens can be gauged only after a visit. The condition of the schools has deteriorated over the past few decades, especially after the tea industry ran into a crisis. Most of the schools have closed down with the management running short of funds.
The move will definitely improve the quality of education for children of the tea garden community that comprises 30 per cent of Assam’s total population. They have become an integral part of greater Assamese society and there is no reason why their children should not get an opportunity to avail themselves of quality education.
The government should also take over the health sector particularly after the recent deaths in the tea gardens in Upper Assam .
Bijoy Seal
Cinnamara Tea Estate
Joymoti Nagar and Sankar Nagar fall under wards 3 and 6 of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation.
A main road was built connecting Joymoti Nagar with New Colony on the north and AT Road with B.R. Saikia Nursing Home on the south during 2004-2005. But the bylanes except bylane number 1, were largely ignored.
With the boom in construction of multi-storey buildings and Assam-type houses since 1990-91, trucks ferrying construction materials damaged the bylanes even more.
In 2005-2006, the main road leading to Joymoti Nagar along with the bylanes were severely damaged. The drains were perennially choked.
There is no pavement on the inside arterial roads and the main roads from AT Road to New Colony and the inside main lane of Joymoti and Sankar Nagar.
The least that the taxpayers can expect from the administration are basic amenities, which seem to hardly exist.
The authorities should spare a thought for the responsible citizens of the locality.
Sukamal Kumar Choudhury
M.C. Karmakar
Pandu
