Historic Day: Process of setting up a Mini-Secretariat starts formally in Barak Valley

August 20: It’s indeed a much cherished dream for the people of Barak Valley. Finally, the day has come when the dream of lakhs of people of this valley will come true. The government formally started the process of setting up a Mini-Secretariat in Barak Valley with Bhoomi Pujan ceremony at Srikona in Cachar district on Tuesday.

The Bhoomi Pujan was followed by a formal ceremony. In her welcome address, Laya Madduri, Deputy commissioner, Cachar said, “It is a matter of great privilege for the people of Barak valley that Government of Assam has gifted them with a Mini Secretariat in this region and it is for the first time that a wing of Assam(civil) secretariat is being established at a place other than Guwahati.Such a step on the part of the Government fullfills the long standing demand of this region thereby mitigating the troubles of the people hailing from Barak valley.”

In his speech, Fisheries, Excise, Environment & Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya said the citizens of Barak Valley had been eagerly waiting for a mini-secretariat for several years and finally the dream is is on the way of seeing the light of the day. “This will put an end to people’s sufferings of travelling to Guwahati for various works/purposes,” he said. Suklabaidya, who was present as the chief guest, said that the Sarbananda Sonowal government had taken Barak Valley to the path of growth and development ever since it came to power in Dispur.

The Fisheries, Excise, Environment & Forest Minister further said, “Earlier, it took around sixteen to eighteen hours to reach Guwahati from here, whereas now it takes around six to seven hours. Connectivity has been bettered immensely.”.Talking about the East-West corridor (Silchar-Saurashtra road) project, Suklabaidya said that the mega project remained incomplete for several years during the regime of the previous government. The BJP government fast-tracked it after coming to power. “The project would be completed within the next two years,” he said.

Silchar MP Dr Rajdeep Roy also counted on the development works launched by the state government in Barak Valley. He said, “Setting up a mini-secretariat was one of the major visions of the Sonowal government. The journey has finally began.” He said many development projects in this valley had been implemented by the Sonowal government in the last three years and many more would be done in the days ahead. Further, he urged the concerned departments  complete the work of the mini-secretariat on time.

Assam Legislative Assembly’s Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar said the site for the mini-secretariat is very much suitable for its connectivity from the other two districts – Hailakandi and Karimganj. “This government has brought ‘good days’ for this valley in real sense,” he said.

The superintending engineer of PWD (building), Silchar – Probal Deb said the mini-secretariat would be built on an area of 16 bighas and 15 kathas and an amount of Rs. 4 crore 13 lakh 63 thousand 262 rupees has been allocated for the project’s first phase that includes retaining and boundary walls. The second phase includes constructions of secretariat block, assembly building, guest house, quarters, internal roads along with work of electrification and water supply among others. The total project is expected to get completed within the next three to four years, he added.

Former Union Minister Kabindra Purkayastha, MLA Dilip Kumar Paul, Kishore Nath, Mihir Kanti Shome, Amar Chand Jain and former Congress Minister and now a BJP member Gautam Roy were also present. The loud applauds of the audience during the speech of Gautam Roy indicated his popularity. Laya Madduri, Keerthi Jalli & M.S.Manivannan the three Deputy Commissioner’s of Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj respectively were present there.