I have had the opportunity to pretty much travel to many states in India. Whether we like it or not, the roads in Assam are probably the most pitiful. So, C'da tell us again why other states can somehow manage to build better roads than Assam? And here is a reason:
If we look deep into it, we will find that the biggest industry in Assam is corruption, and that is the reason why very little gets done.
I know your response will be: So how do we go about solving this? The only way, I see is for the "people" to undergo a change to become responsible citizens and view corruption as 'anti-social' and 'anti-Assam', instead of taking it in their stride.
BTW: In Feb. this year, the World Bank has given $500 million for roads/bridges in Assam (see below)
**The World Bank has sanctioned a loan of $500 million to Assam for improving state highways and major town roads, according to state government officials. The proposal was sent a couple of years ago but it gained momentum only recently after the Assam chief minister took up the issue with the Union finance minister and broke it up into two projects: $200 million and $300 million respectively. The much-needed loan will boost the state's urban infrastructure such as old wooden bridges that need to be replaced. -- Project Monitor (A website devoted to projects in India)*****
http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=8786
So, obviously money seems to be pouring in. When most other states get funds like this, some percent is misused, but most of it is used for the project at hand. Is that the same in Assam? I don't have facts & figures, but my guess would be that only a small portion of the WB money would spent on the roads. The rest of the money would go into the pockets of corrupt officials, engineers, and thekadars
Here is another note on the WB funds:
**The Assam government has prepared a scheme to broaden the Gopinath Bordoloi and Maniram Dewan roads, the two main corridors in Guwahati, to cope with the sharp increase in vehicular traffic. The project is expected to be implemented before the monsoon.
In phase-I, widening of the road from Guwahati Club point to Chandmari flyover will be taken up. An amount of Rs 2 crore would be required to pay compensation to the residents in the Silpukhuri area whose buildings would be affected by the project.
In the initial stage, only the existing pavements will be taken up for widening. This will help widen the roads by at least 7 ft and new pavements will be constructed for the pedestrians. The Assam government is expected to release funds for the project soon to enable the state PWD to start implementing the project. **
And the PWD is being entrusted with this money?
--Ram
>From: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: "Anjan K. Nath" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <
[email protected]>
>Subject: Re: [Assam] roads in assam
>Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 08:35:01 -0500
>
>Anjan:
>
>
>It tells us nothing.
>
>We DO know how dysfunctional Assam govts. past and present have
>been.
>
>We also know how the hands of the capable of Assam are tied and are
>unable to change anything, working within the framework of the
>Indian governmental system that is.
>
>That is where the problem is.
>
>You might ask, why is that so?
>
>If you have to ask that, the simple way to figure that out will be:
>
> 1: Put yourself in the shoes ( or sandals) of an able and
> upright PWD official. And using your citizen's awareness of
> how your govt. works, run thru the process of attempting to
> change things. Do share it us though. Because if you don't,
> no one will know the fallacy of my arguments. Yours should
>be
> an attempt to educate us.
>
> 2: Put yourself in the position of a concerned citizen, and show us
>how
> you will go thru the process of demanding and obtaining
>accountability
> from those in authority and those who have the resources to
>get
> things done. Again show us the steps you will take.
>
>
>Either of the exercises above that will demonstrate how things could
>be turned around would validate the positions you, Rajen, Kamal etc.
>have taken, even though theoretically. That would not however be a
>disqualification. If something could be shown, even only
>theoretically, but taking into account the operating realities, it
>would prove that assertions or mere implying of certain truths by
>the likes of Kamal, Rajen and even yourself are valid, and that the
>arguments like yours truly makes here are bogus.
>
>So go at it guy. Show us. And don't forget to have Kamal , Rajen
>etc. assist you with something concrete instead of taunts from the
>sidelines or pitiable excuses.
>
>BTW, Ram went thru that exercise recently, on exacting
>accountability from the elected officials. He had all the powers of
>a great democratic govt. at his disposal to go thru the exercises.
>We don't know what he found, because he did not share it with us.
>But he might not have wanted to give out the secrets prematurely.
>But as a 'xohojatri'--(fellow traveler) he might share his findings
>with you all.
>:-) :-)
>
>c
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>At 8:37 PM +0800 4/14/05, Anjan K. Nath wrote:
>>Compare the two fly-overs in Guwahati; one over Ganeshguri crossing
>>and the other over Ulubari crossing. One was given to an outside
>>contractor who completed the project on time while the other was
>>given to a local who took many years more than the targetted time
>>to complete it and that too with the help of the first contractor.
>>
>>AKN
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Barua25" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>To: "Anjan K. Nath" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Alpana B.
>>Sarangapani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
>><
[email protected]>; "Chan Mahanta" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 1:16 PM
>>Subject: Re: [Assam] roads in assam
>>
>>> >They are contracted out to private contractors. Bigger the
>>>project, >higher
>>>the chances it
>>>>will go to contractors in Kolkata or Delhi or wherever. So, just
>>>>because it
>>>is executed by outside contractors, does not >automatically mean
>>>the quality
>>>of work would meet minimum requirements
>>>
>>>Xutrodhar - Ei xobhaxodo! Putting words in mouth of raiz!!!
>>>Bhaworia - Aha! It seems, we are almost getting there. The
>>>probl;em is the
>>>big contracts go outside Assam, and that is the problem. The poor
>>>people of
>>>Assam are being exploited and they simply donot have any voice in
>>>the road
>>>construction specially of the big projects. For the PWD engineers,
>>>their
>>>hands are tight. What they will do? They cannot do anything. If
>>>somehow we
>>>could hold these contracts within Guwahati or Jorhat or Janji or
>>>Namti, we
>>>could make it. The GOI will not support us. Only way we can do
>>>this is to
>>>grab power in our hand.
>>>Xutrodhar - Xuvo xuvo!!!
>>>Bhaworiar prosthan!
>>>
>>>Rajen
>>>
>>>
>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Chan Mahanta"
>>><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>>To: "Anjan K. Nath" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Barua25"
>>><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Alpana B. Sarangapani"
>>><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
>>><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <
[email protected]>
>>>Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 9:39 PM
>>>Subject: Re: [Assam] roads in assam
>>>
>>>>Anjan:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I understand everything you say. And I have no doubt that your
>>>>anecdotal accounts do indeed represent the state of affairs.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>But you are missing the point that the defaulters are integral
>>>>part
>>>>of the Indian system of governance, where those entrusted with
>>>>responsibilities never have to account for anything. And they do
>>>>not
>>>>represent the people of Assam.
>>>>
>>>>There are many fine people in Assam, just like you and Rajen and
>>>>Kamal. They are moral, they are able and given the opportunity,
>>>>will
>>>>serve the people just as well or better than Rajasthanis, Tamils
>>>>or
>>>>Karanatakis. And they are in the Govt, too, even in the PWD.
>>>>
>>>>But the Indian governmental system would not support or reward
>>>>the
>>>>able, the honest, the dutiful. On the other hand, corruption and
>>>>dereliction of duty pays. Those who indulge in it get ahead.
>>>>
>>>>It is not like that the people of Assam are less moral than
>>>>Rajasthanis or Tamils or Haryanis. Their circumstances are
>>>>different.
>>>>Only the intellectually challenged and the deeply ignorant would
>>>>judge them in comparison .
>>>>
>>>>Finally road building technology is one of the lowest of
>>>>technologies. It is all in execution. Execution needs quality
>>>>assurance. And the final product must be warrantable. If it
>>>>fails
>>>>somebody must account for it. In Indian government there is no
>>>>such
>>>>requirement of accountability. If the road fails in one monsoon,
>>>>tough s--t.
>>>>
>>>>And guess what--most of the work run by the PWD or other govt.
>>>>agencies are NOT executed by govt. employees. They are contracted
>>>>out
>>>>to private contractors. Bigger the project, higher the chances it
>>>>will go to contractors in Kolkata or Delhi or wherever. So, just
>>>>because it is executed by outside contractors, does not
>>>>automatically
>>>>mean the quality of work would meet minimum requirements.
>>>>The proof is everywhere you look at. Because quality or price are
>>>>rarely the criteria for winning these contracts: bribery ,
>>>>nepotism
>>>>and corrupt practices are. Again, how would you hold the
>>>>responsible
>>>>accountable?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>It all boils down to enforcement of accountability. If it does
>>>>not
>>>>exist, quality would always be on a downward spiral. Does not
>>>>matter
>>>>if it is the Narmada canal that breached the moment water started
>>>>flowing or Dhwdor Ali pavement that fails right after the first
>>>>monsoon.
>>>>
>>>>c
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>At 6:11 AM +0800 4/14/05, Anjan K. Nath wrote:
>>>>>Chan,
>>>>>Take heart man, things are going right and all is well with the
>>>>>roads in Guwahati, at least.
>>>>>
>>>>>I suppose some of us are not aware that the major roads of
>>>>>Guwahati
>>>>>are now being maintained by a private company and that the money
>>>>>is
>>>>>disbursed directly from Central funds. Only the smaller roads
>>>>>and
>>>>>"municipal" roads are now "supposedly" looked after by the PWD
>>>>>(People With Disabilities). So, in a way, Rajasthan has come to
>>>>>Assam.
>>>>>
>>>>>Again, the stretch of the National Highway that runs from the
>>>>>Beltola area to Jhalukbari (10 km or so) has been constructed by
>>>>>an
>>>>>"outside" construction company under NHI specifications and it
>>>>>is
>>>>>standing up to the test of the Assamese soil and rain (so far at
>>>>>least). I would have liked to see the road elevated slightly
>>>>>more,
>>>>>but then ... who am I to question it.
>>>>>
>>>>>Remember the time when the PWD went into throes over this issue
>>>>>and
>>>>>the PWD Minister and Secretary PWD announced in the Legislative
>>>>>Assembly that the Assam PWD was fully capable of "road
>>>>>construction"
>>>>>and disbursing the Rs 1,000 cr allocated for the purpose. There
>>>>>were so many "letters to the editors" of the various newspapers
>>>>>laughing at the PWD that they did not dare protest any further
>>>>>as
>>>>>the contract went out to the "foreigners" with "proven track
>>>>>records."
>>>>>
>>>>>No, you are not wrong in thinking in that vein. It is actually
>>>>>happening. Now we can call bandhs, blow up a few bridges,
>>>>>disrupt
>>>>>public life, and say that Delhi treats us in a step-motherly
>>>>>fashion. Or what next?
>>>>>
>>>>>Anjan
>>>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Chan Mahanta"
>>>>><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>>> >To: "Barua25" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Alpana B. Sarangapani"
>>>>><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
>>>>><
[email protected]>
>>>>>Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 4:23 AM
>>>>>Subject: Re: [Assam] roads in assam
>>>>>
>>>>>>Oooh, looks like I touched a raw nerve :-).
>>>>>>
>>>>>>But the theory of 'People are Bad, the System is Fine', is not
>>>>>>mine. I like to receive credit for credit-worthy things, but
>>>>>>can't
>>>>>>take credit for what is not my discovery or invention.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Since Assam road conditions have been firmly attributed to the
>>>>>>absence of morality among the people of Assam, its politicians,
>>>>>>its
>>>>>>PWD and ineptitude of Assam Civil Engineers and no mention was
>>>>>>made
>>>>>>of the system that promotes and sustains such attributes; one
>>>>>>would
>>>>>>have to conclude the Assamese are not qualified to build their
>>>>>>roads and do not deserve to govern itself.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Under the circumstances, would it NOT be reasonable to entrust
>>>>>>Assam's road work with people with proven track-records, such
>>>>>>as
>>>>>>Rajasthanis or Delhiwallas?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Or could there be some fallacy in this thought process? If
>>>>>>there
>>>>>>is, what is it?
>>>>>>What then would be the AMENDED theory of 'People are Bad, the
>>>>>>System is Fine'?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Can't wait to hear that :-).
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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