Guwahati: After assuming charge of the housing and urban affairs department, Assam minister Jayanta Mallabaruah hosted an interactive session titled ‘Bartalap’ with a group of senior editor-journalists from various media houses on 21 December in the city. This platform facilitated discussions on the key priorities and initiatives of the concerned departments and also public health engineering aiming at fostering sustainable development across the State, particularly in urban affairs and public health.
The session highlighted the ambitious mission flood-free initiative, designed to address artificial flooding in Assam, with a focus on Guwahati. Proposed solutions included the development of a robust drainage system in flood-prone areas, collaborative efforts to manage cross-border water inflow, and enhanced community engagement to make Guwahati cleaner and more livable.
The minister emphasized on the potential for incentivizing public contributions to cleanliness and urban development and discussed involving school students in the Swachhata Abhijan, with consultations planned with the State education department. Other measures discussed included innovative traffic management strategies, addressing footpath encroachments, enhancing waste disposal systems, introducing groundwater retention in new constructions, and cracking down on illegal water supply operations.
On the public health front, significant progress under the jal jeevan mission, which aims to provide safe drinking water to every household was highlighted. The State has achieved an impressive milestone, with tap water connections reaching over 82% of households, a substantial rise from just 1.67% in 2019. The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to rigorous monitoring of JJM projects and acknowledged the media’s vital role in identifying areas for improvement.
The role of media in bridging the communication gap between the government and the public was also underlined. Strategies such as leveraging digital platforms and fostering direct engagement were discussed to strengthen this connection. The participating media persons provided valuable feedback to refine policies and drive impactful change, which was responded positively by the minister.
The session concluded with a commitment to collaboration and innovation, striving for a progressive and inclusive future for Assam.