WHATEVER may be said against Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in and out of his Congress party, he has shown himself to be a man of action. Three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his Swachh Bharat Mission, Gogoi started his own ‘Clean Assam’ campaign by picking up a broom and sweeping garbage in different localities of the state capital, Guwahati. The Assam Chief Minister also announced the formation of a Green Brigade and permanent committees to look after cleanliness in different localities. Awards will be given for the drive. Parties differ but missions may not. Gogoi expressed appreciation of Narendra Modi’s mission and said that his state government would also help make Assam clean and green. He decided to kick off the campaign a day after the end of Durga Puja and chose the spots which were littered with garbage during the festival which had just concluded.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi attributed water logging and flood problem to garbage and filth. He urged citizens to keep the drains clean to ensure smooth flow of water. According to him, one of the reasons Guwahati had a flood was the clogging of drains. If the drains are kept free from garbage that would mitigate the problem to a great extent. The mission will span the whole of Assam. As a gesture, the Chief Minister’s action and words are commendable. But it does not absolve the government from its lack of preparedness in protecting people and homes from the devastation caused by flood year after year. A ‘Clean Assam’ drive is fair enough. But far more important is a clean government in Dispur free from internal bickering.
