GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged the people to practice participatory democracy in the state and help the government with their suggestions. He, however, made it clear that only “constructive criticism” is encouraged.
“We should practice participatory democracy. This is government that listens to the people; we are for you. Be it through the legislators or otherwise, we request the people to approach us with suggestions. Only when there will be suggestions, we will be able to consider them,” he says, speaking at the inauguration of Shraddhanjali Flyover in Zoo Road, Guwahati, on Thursday.
Asserting that in today’s time and date, Guwahati’s infrastructure needs a contemporary revamp, he reiterated that the government is committed to do it.
“Firstly, we must accept that Guwahati is not a planned city. Today, it is growing and along with it, is the traffic. Twenty-five years ago, nobody could have imagined that RG Barua Road will be packed with cars. So, we have to formulate plans to accommodate it and, the government welcomes all suggestions and constructive criticism,” he said.
Expressing dejection at recent reports of disapproval against government’s approach towards infrastructural projects in the city, the Chief Minister said that flyovers are a must to tackle mounting traffic and people should welcome them.
“We must have a positive outlook and believe in progressive initiatives. Rather than slamming anything and everything that the government does, we must think constructive, even in criticism,” he added.
He also said that due to scarcity of land in Guwahati, the government has been unable to kick off certain projects in the city.
“Here, people don’t have spare land. So, it’s difficult to implement certain infrastructural projects in the city. Others cities in the country have already successfully implemented certain mega projects. But our hands are tied,” he said.
In his speech, the Chief Minister also laid out the blue print of infrastructural plans envisaged for Guwahati in the coming years.
