NAMRUP, Dec 24?Namrup, once a sleepy area with deep jungles, now ranks as one of the important industrial towns of Assam with three major gas-based industries, tea-gardens and forest resources.
The process of industrialisation began in Namrup in 1965 with the setting up of the Namrup Thermal Power Station (NTPS), the first of its kind in the entire Northeastern region. After that two other major Gas-based industries viz BVFC (then HFCL) Namrup unit of Assam Petrochemicals Ltd (APL) began commercial production from 1969 and 1975 respectively, providing direct and indirect employment to thousands of people.
But the surprising fact is that after four decades of industrialisation, this industrial town is to deprived of the recognition as a town in the true sense of the term from the authorities concerned though much has been highlighted from time to time on different platforms.
Needless to add that Namrup contributes crores of rupees as revenue per annum to the Central as well as State governments? exchequers by way of taxes and levies. But the government?s attitude towards the development of Namrup seems to be indifferent.
Lack of a proper drainage system in the township has caused serious problems affecting the environment to a great extent. Rotten heaps of stinking waste make the BVFCL daily market almost upapproachable. Encroachment upon the PWD road near BVFC daily market by non-Assamese vendors too is a matter of concern. Another dark side is that the inhabitants of the township have been deprived of basic amenities.
There is scarcely any industrial town in the country and abroad without a permanent public bus stand except Namrup. Consequently, the busy Sonari Tinali here has become jampacked with public buses, mini-buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws and rickshaws.
The road and communication system of Namrup is also pitiable. The historic Dhodar Ali which runs from Dillighat to Sonari Tinali has been deteriorating day by day with pond-like pot-holes.
The deplorable condition of the Namrup Primary Health Centre set up in 1983 has become a matter of concern among the rural and urban populace of Namrup.
At least 30,000 people are directly dependent on this health centre for their medical purposes. But the centre has failed to provide required medical facilities to the needy people. It is learnt that the centre hasn?t received any government assistance for extension and construction work. The present building has failed to cater to growing needs.
There is no seperate immunization ward, dressing room and maternity ward. The absence of a sweeper and dresser has posed other serious problems. Pleas to upgrade the health centre to a 30-bed well-equipped hospital with modern facilities has fallen on deaf ears.
Moreover the only veterinary hospital of Namrup located at Hapjan Hindu-goad here is now, a haunted house for not being in use for a decade. The non-availability of essential fax and telex facilities has become a cause of serious concern among the industrial houses and pressmen.
Railway stoppage: The populace of greater Namrup has expressed grave concern over the absence of stoppage of the superfast Brahmaputra Mail at the Namrup railway station. In this regard, the inhabitants, of Namrup have submitted memorandums from time to time demanding stoppage of the Brahmaputra Mail along with reservations but no avail.
Importance of Namrup Railway Station can?t be minimised as it is the house of three major gas-based industries, coalmines and tea gardens. Namurp has assumed the status of a ?Mini-India? as people from the different parts of the country are engaged in BVFCL, APL, tea-gardens , coalmines and CRPF. But with the expansion of broad-gauge line to upper Assam, the NF Railway authority has withdrawn the railway stoppage for the super-fast Brahmaputra Mail causing much inconveniences to passengers.