Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma directs DCs to fix ‘killer’ potholes

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma today pulled up Deputy Commissioners of various districts for their lax nature and directed them to immediately take action and fix all pot-holes, pits and ditches on roads.

The Assam Chief Minister’s strong warning to the Deputy Commissioners comes in the wake of the 2 accidents, one in Guwahati and the other one in Dibrugarh, which claimed 2 lives.

Addressing the Deputy Commissioners through a video conference today on Assam’s flood preparedness, Chief Minister Sarma directed that Engineers in the PWD hold a meeting with the contractors of different agencies to get rid of such killer pits and potholes.

“All the DCs must take this as a priority and treat it as an emergency, if such potholes can be filled up restore it immediately. Wherever such pits or potholes remain due to the nature of the work than barricading with red flags must be ensured,” Chief Minister Sarma said.

Himanta Biswa Sarma also took strong exception to the ongoing construction works covering portions of road and steps taken to avert any untoward incident.

The Chief Minister said,”There are 2-under construction drains in Ulubari, but since it is open and if the road gets flooded than how people will distinguish that there is a hole, there is a drain work going on. First of all the Kamrup (metropolitan) district administration should have at least the sensititivity that we will complete the drain work before flood, at any point in time.”

“And if the work could not be completed than the under construction spot should have been barricaded. On Thursday an accident took place in Guwahati, the day before yesterday it happened in Dibrugarh, tomorrow another one might happen. A forward plan should have been made,”Sarma further said.

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma also strongly reprimanded Dibrugarh DC Biswajit Pegu for the death of Abdul Rahim who fell into a roadside pit on NH-37 in Dibrugarh.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma further directed all the DCs to be on high alert following the IMD forecast for the next 5 days.

CM Sarma stated that the next 5 days will be critical as the Met department has predicted heavy rainfall in certain districts including Dima Hasao. As such, CM Sarma directed NDRF teams to be rushed to Dima Hasao by tonight itself.