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Title : Need for construction of a bridge over river singibari at Adambari Ghat in Coochbehar district, West Bengal.
SHRI HITEN BARMAN (COOCH BEHAR): In 1950 Cooch Behar was attached to the Indian sub-continent but the Central Government failed to provide adequate economic assistance to this district. Dinhata is the area adjoining Bangladesh. In this area about 7 lakh people are divided between Shitai and Dinhata. In Shitai area, more than 1 lakh of people are cut off from Dinhata due to lack of proper communication and transport facilities. They don’t have easy access to schools, colleges, hospitals, etc. the farmers are also facing difficulty in such that they are not being able to sell their crops due to the hindrance of Singimary river. There is no bridge to connect the two areas. Even the soldiers and BSF cannot reach the border areas easily. I would like to remind you that during the Indo-Pak war of 1965 just because of the absence of this bridge our soldiers could not reach the Barthar area bordering Bangladesh.
So I would like to say that the bridge should be constructed at Adabari Ghat immediately for the benefit of the people at large and for our security also. Especially the Defence Ministry should take proper steps to construct it.
I thank you for allowing me to raise this issue.
* Translation of the speech originally delivered in Bengali.