TURA: In the light of normalcy fast returning to the troubled reason after widespread agitation over the issue of Citizenship Amendment Bill, West Garo Hills district administration took it a step further to connect with the stakeholders by organising a meeting with church leaders, locality elders, senior citizens and representatives of various youth bodies on Monday evening at the deputy commissioner’s office.
Deputy commissioner Ram Singh gave a detailed account of the steps taken to ensure the smooth supply of essential commodities, particularly fuel supply, and added that police officials and magistrates would continue to be out on the ground overseeing the law and order situation.
To deter anti-social elements from causing trouble under the influence of intoxicants, an order was been put in place to close all wine stores by 5 PM, instead of the stipulated 7 PM.
The decision to clamp down on the sale of liquor was taken after a large number of citizens of Tura complained about the widespread sale of liquor and its indulgence by many youth who create trouble in different localities during the night hours. It was also revealed that a large section of those youth indulging in such anti-social elements are coming from outside of Tura and residing in rented houses of homes of relatives in the town.
Deputy commissioner has asked locality leaders to enforce tight guidelines to prevent youth from going astray.
Given that a series of pre-Christmas activities, particularly community singing and dancing takes place in different localities in the run up to the biggest festival of the year, community leaders have been urged to ensure all such programmes come to a close by 10 in the night.
A suggestion to organise Mahari (Clan) wise competitions and events during the Christmas season was also endorsed during the meeting between the government and the public representatives.
Songkritan competition: To raise the celebrations a notch higher, the district administration has urged the localities to organise the traditional dancing called ‘Songkritan’ or ‘Song kristan’ in their respective areas at the earliest.
Mass cleaning drive of Tura: In preparation for Christmas, an appeal has been made to citizens of the town to come out and take part in a mass cleaning drive of Tura town on December 18th. Separate collection of plastic waste y the Tura Municipal Board and restricting the dumping of garbage after 7 PM was also announced during the meeting.
The ban on the sale of fire crackers exceeding normal noise decibels was also decided at the meet while respective engineers from the PWD and PHE have been asked to put their men force on the job to secure leaking pipes and coloring of the speed breakers on the roads.
Onion sale: Meanwhile, complaints against the steep price in sale of onions were flooded by concerned members of the public during the meeting.
The supply department has been directed to ensure sale of onions in Tura does not cross the Rs 120 mark.