The Times of India                03.06.2013

Guwahati Municipal Corporation poll campaign kicks off at Maligaon

GUWAHATI: With less than three weeks to go for the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) election, campaigning has gained momentum in ward no. 3 in Maligaon and adjoining localities of the city.

The candidates in the fray are making all efforts to woo voters with promises of development. But residents of the ward will vote only for those who they believe will be dedicated to the cause of the society. The ward has a population of around 60,000. Nearly 19,000 voters from ward no. 3 will vote in the GMC polls to elect one ward councillor and two area sabha representatives.

"Ward no. 3 of the GMC lacks a proper drainage system. For the last many years, streetlights in the bylanes of the ward have been out of order, but the GMC authorities hardly pay any attention to our problems. We need a vocal leader who can air the grievances of the residents to the top officials of the municipality," said Ramen Bharali, a businessman of Maligaon Chariali.

Residents of Boripara, Green Park, Dowapara and Bharalipara have been facing a crisis of potable water over the years. The water supply scheme undertaken by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) in the area to provide round-the-clock water supply will be complete by the end of 2013, according to GMDA officials. But locals feel it may take more time for completion of the project.

Candidates of various political parties campaigning in the ward, however, said that urgent measures would be taken to provide relief to the people from scarcity of potable water. "We will go for enhancement of the water treatment capacity of GMC's water treatment plants," said Nripen Bharali, BJP's candidate in the ward. He added if BJP wins majority of the seats in the GMC, it will install solar panels with the streetlights to conserve energy and light up the streets.

Pradip Rai, Congress's candidate, on the other hand, said that the aim of the party would be to usher in development of the ward, which is ailing on various fronts due to lack of representatives in the GMC for the last five years.