Protest held in Silchar over infrastructure issues and increased taxes

On August 13, the Progressive Citizens' Coordination Platform, Silchar, led a significant public protest in New Silchar, focusing on urgent local issues. The demonstration, held near Chittaranjan Das's statue on the National Highway, addressed concerns over inadequate road repairs, persistent waterlogging, and increased municipal taxes.

Key speakers, including former municipal commissioner Sadhan Purkayastha, detailed the ongoing challenges faced by residents, particularly highlighting the severe waterlogging affecting New Silchar. Purkayastha and others criticized the local municipality for imposing higher taxes without resolving these fundamental problems. They demanded an immediate rollback of increased water and municipal taxes and called for no taxes to be paid until municipal elections are conducted.

The protest saw strong participation from both women and youth. The speakers warned that the poor state of roads could negatively impact local businesses, especially with the Durga Puja festival approaching, which typically sees increased shopper traffic from surrounding areas. The protestors urged the municipality to prioritize infrastructure improvements to support local commerce and community well-being.