Guwahati: Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah Inspects De-Siltation Works in City

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: In a determined push to address Guwahati’s perennial waterlogging problems, Assam’s Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Jayanta Mallabaruah, undertook an extensive inspection of de-siltation works being carried out across the city. These critical pre-monsoon operations are being executed under the supervision of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), and the Public Works Department (PWD).

The minister’s inspection tour included visits to several flood-prone areas such as Anil Nagar, PIBCO, Rukminigaon, Juripar, Silsakoo, Basisthapur Survey Beltola, Hatigaon, and a vulnerable stretch of the National Highway known for chronic waterlogging. During his visit, he interacted with local residents, listened to their grievances, and discussed both immediate relief measures and long-term flood mitigation strategies. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to not only tackle the ongoing issues with urgency but also to work with communities to develop sustainable solutions.

While addressing the media at Anil Nagar, the minister highlighted that flood control initiatives in the area have been going on since late last year and would continue as part of the broader urban resilience framework. Emphasizing the importance of quick water drainage, he said that the immediate goal is to reduce the time required to clear rainwater from several hours to just one hour, through efficient de-siltation and drainage strategies. He also noted that short-term interventions such as de-silting must be carried out regularly, especially after every spell of rain, to remain effective.

The minister acknowledged delays in the de-siltation work, which was originally scheduled to be completed by April 30. While most areas have seen progress, he admitted that some sections remain unfinished. He assured that the pending work would be completed by May 18 and issued a stern warning that if the deadline is missed, strict action will be taken under the Disaster Management Act by the District Commissioner on May 19 against the responsible contractors or officials.

To ensure transparency and public participation, Minister Mallabaruah emphasized the establishment of regional monitoring committees. These committees include local residents, ward commissioners, and departmental officials and are aimed at keeping track of progress while promoting accountability. He expressed confidence in these participatory mechanisms and underlined the positive impact they have already had.

The minister was accompanied by Mayor Mrigen Sarania, GMDA Chairman Narayan Deka, Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner Sumit Sattawan, and others.

Also Read: Flood-Free Guwahati: Monitoring Teams Formed To Supervise Drain De-Siltation

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