Fed up of govt apathy, Assam locals protest by ‘fishing’ on road

Guwahati: In a unique way of protesting, residents of Kokrajhar district in Assam came out to ‘fish’ on the main road on Tuesday to shed light on the deplorable state of roads in the area.

As per sources, hundreds of people carrying banners and placards from Bhotgaon area gathered on the Kokrajhar-Bilashipara road and expressed anger for the dilapidated road condition that has remained unrepaired for a long time.

Besides holding placards, the protestors showed their displeasure and questioned the state’s Public Works Department role in maintenance of the roads. Few of the protesters also started ‘fishing’ with nets and fish traps in middle of the road as a mark of protest.

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The unique way of agitation that was initiated by the All BTAD Minority Student’s Union (ABMSU) to pressure the state government for an early renovation of the road, also raised a serious concern to the insincerity displayed by the PWD department and other officials concerned.

Speaking to media, ABMSU leaders informed that they are forced to take out the massive demonstration as the state government was least concerned in initiating renovation works of the road that was in a pathetic condition for a long time.

“Government never heard people’s needy voice and so have come up with fishing net to fish out fishes on the road,” a student leader expressed.

The Kokrajhar-Bilashipara road, which is just 7 km from Kokrajhar town and connects nearby Dhubri district and its adjoining areas, has been creating much trouble to daily commuters as it has remained unrepaired for a long time, allegedly due to apathy by the state government.

“It is indeed shocking to know that at a time when the state’s PWD minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is drumming on renovation works of all PWD roads across the state, many roads constructed under the department, including the Kokrajhar-Bilashipara connecting, road still remains in a deteriorating state,” a protester alleged.