[Assam] Jeddah Floods

[UTTAM BORTHAKUR]

It is reported that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has directed prosecution
of the officials and businessmen (Contractors, Suppliers I suppose) who have
failed to keep the city of Jeddah prepared for floods, and left it
vulnerable against the November floods that had left 11000 families homeless
and wrecked 10000 odd vehicles, despite spending billions of dollars. The
King has unequivocally termed corruption among these officials and
businessmen as the cause of this failure.

Whereas, the Minister for Urban Development, Assam, Honorable Sri H B Sarma,
who hails from water-logged Gandhi Basti and who has now constructed a
mansion on highlands near New Guwahati, has failed to see the increasing
threat of floods to Guwahati in spite of crores of rupees spent. This was
audacious. And there is no effective people's movement against such
inactions and ludicrous statements. We have taken it lying low.

It is not surprising that even the armed struggle espoused by  small groups
in Assam result in great farces and tragic comedies, where yesterday's
freedom fighters use the gun on people to earn wealth for themselves, and
the existing fighters extort/ maim/ kill the people they preach of
liberating.

Only hope lies in the democratic movements presently gaining grounds against
corruption, flood, hunger and various social maladies all over Assam. I
specifically refer to the one led by Sri Akhil Gogoi. Cynics may say that
these movements too would peter out like many of its earlier examples, as
there's always the possibility of the leaders abandoning the ship in mid
ocean. But at the same time, it would groom and tamper another set of
leaders to carry the spirit of democratic movements forward.

Who can say what the future holds? Shall the wars be centered around oil or
water?