GDD & GMDA ready to execute major schemes to mitigate artificial floods

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Guwahati Development Department has decided to execute six major schemes to mitigate artificial floods in the city during the coming monsoon season.

The six schemes chalked out are cleaning and desilting of Pamohi Water channel; Borsala Beel; Silshaku Beel; Bondajan Beel; Deepor Beel; and the NBCC drain.

On Many 1, Additional Chief Secretary of GDD Maninder Singh reviewed the status of various ongoing schemes. He made personal visits to various sites and was accompanied by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) team consisting of Moloy Bora, Chief Executive Officer, GMDA; Ananta Kumar Gogoi, Secretary, GMDA; and site engineers, Kriti Nath Talukdar and Janardhan Hazarika. The team under the command of Maninder Singh, observed various developments on the sites and were accordingly, instructed by Singh for taking up measures, wherever necessary, to successfully complete the schemes before the arrival of monsoon.

In the case of the Pamohi water channel, two major issues were observed, viz., encroachment of land along the side of Pamohi water channel and huge factories observed in Azara Gaon Panchayat areas. The team in this case, was instructed to conduct a survey to know the status of land and also carry out eviction if the land is found to be Government land. The team was further instructed to conduct survey to find out the status of the zone and necessary actions to be taken against the owners of factories if found to be situated in the Green Belt area.

In the case of the Borsala Beel, an issue was observed, viz.,direct discharge of dirty drain water to the beel which has made the water unhygienic. The team in this case, was instructed to conduct a survey to find out the technical flaws of the alternative drain and for the same, a proposal with required rectification will be placed before Guwahati Development Department to make the drain workable.

In the case of the Silshaku Beel, few issues were observed, viz., 60 to 70 per cent areas of the Beel are under encroachment, presence of 3 bottlenecks between Silshaku Beel and Brahmaputra River because of which riverine survey of water bodies cannot be carried out. The team in this case, was instructed to survey the Beel area and carry out an eviction drive to make the area free from encroachment. Further, instructions were also given for repairment of the Water Master and removal of bottlenecks in consultation with Oil India Limited.

In the case of theNBCC drain, . The team in this case, was instructed to deploy more machines within three days for early completion of the works as well as to deploySucker machine for cleaning and desilting works.

Maninder Singh also made a visit to the new Ropeway project site undertaken by the GMDA and inspected the same.

Under the guidance and supervision of Moloy Bora, the GMDA engineers are confident to implement the newer instructions for the schemes in an expeditious manner and get them completed successfully before monsoon begins. Their successful implementation in a rejuvenated manner is likely to quell the challenge of artificial flooding.

Also Read: Artificial floods in city: Rs 193 crore spent, yet solution nowhere near

Also Watch: Sellers take advantage of helplessness of panic stricken citizens by overpricing commodities