How to make Guwahati a comfortable place to live in? - Part II

* Continued from yesterday

Prafulla Dowarah

(VI) Voluntary measures to avoid traffic congestion and pollution: Chartered bus services can greatly reduce the traffic congestion in peak hours. College teachers, lawyers, bank officials and employees of various offices should volunteer to use chartered buses. Road congestion apart it would help save petrol and petroleum products and thus can contain air pollution to a great extent. In this regard Jata Bhavan should take the lead. In Jata Bhavan, there have been hundreds of higher officials including secretaries, joint secretaries, and deputy secretaries, directors who use official vehicles to attend office. If they use chartered bus services then 5/6 buses would suffice to cater to the need of hundreds of cars. For this to happen people have to change their mindset. Awareness programmes need to be conducted for the purpose.(VII) Underpass for pedestrians and vehicles: In some vulnerable points in the city underpass facility for pedestrians as well as for vehicles should be made. Flyovers: More flyovers are required to be constructed in the city to remove traffic congestion.(VIII) Footpaths of the city: Generally footpaths are being considered as the safest space for pedestrians. Alas, that is not the case in Guwahati. In Guwahati city the footpaths are becoming the most unsafe than sides of the main roads. Now, situation has come to such a pass that many elderly people avoid footpaths. First, most of the city's footpaths are uneven in ture. In many places the height of the footpaths varies from one inch to two feet from the main road level. Consequently, ramps are made covering footpaths and part of the roads to have easy access to various shops/establishments and residential buildings. And those actions have worsened the condition of footpaths. Second, the poor design of manholes. The manholes that fall on the footpaths are projected outside, making it unsafe for walking. Third, in many places lifting lugs of footpath slabs are projected outside dangerously. Fourth, it is a common scene to see that most of the city's footpaths are being occupied by petty vendors preparing and selling food items, utilizing as parking space for motor bikes, cars and working space by garage owners and by others.(IX) How to make footpath safe? First and the foremost thing is that footpath surfaces should be smooth all along. The height of footpaths should be maintained maximum 2 inch from the road level. While doing so, it is necessary to fix iron grills at the bottom edge the footpaths so that storm water easily flows to the drains. Manholes or anything else fall on the footpath then the cover of manholes should match with the upper surface of the footpath. Second, if anybody does use the footpath for any other purpose than walking then he/she must be dealt with heavily. Heavy punitive action needs to be taken against errant individual(s). Third, keeping the human factors in mind the footpath vendors should be provided with some space wherever possible and that too outside the periphery of footpaths. GMC/GMDA should make necessary arrangement for this on rental basis.(X) Zebra Crossing: It is a safe passage through which pedestrians can cross a busy road. This is being followed around the world keeping pedestrians' safety in view. However, this is not available in Guwahati roads.  Men, women, children and old have to cross roads putting their lives in danger. Immediate actions need to be initiated to do the needful.(XI) rrow lanes/by lanes: There have been many lanes/ by-lanes in Guwahati metro, which are quite rrow and even a small car cannot go easily. This is indeed, a matter of serious concern. What would happen if fire tenders have to go to that area in the event of any fire breaks out? God forbid, nothing of this kind happens! However, to remain prepared to face any eventuality, the lanes/by-lanes are required to be widen adequately even by demolishing buildings etc, if required.(XII) To contain artificial flood during monsoon:Drains are to be covered. Covered space can be used for car parking. Over ground water channels and underground storage tanks are to be constructed for rain water harvesting: Drains and tural streams are not meant for carrying human excreta, household waste, industrial waste, effluent from hospitals. Generally we see all wastes are dumped on the drains in our towns and cities. One thing, we have been witnessing since last couple of years that many places in Guwahati get inundated even in a medium intensity shower. The condition becomes incomprehensible when downpour is continuing for hours. It cripples the city badly. The following factors are responsible to create artificial flood in the city. (I) drains / water channels are not properly maintained (ii) wetlands around the city have been filled up with earth to make residential complexes and buildings. However, drains / water channels were not upgraded / redesigned accordingly to carry the additiol quantity of rain water. (iii) In some places tural streams/drains were filled with earth to make buildings.(iv) People use to throw all sorts of garbage into the drains thereby clogged the drains in various places along its route.(XIII) Suggestions for improvement: tural streams/ drains are required to be restored to its origil size by vacating the encroachers. The streams are to be cleaned and excavated keeping proper gradient. Retaining wall (reinforced/quality wall) on both sides of the streams should be erected to stop earth erosion from its sides. The drains are to be covered with fixed/ removable type strong slabs in case medium size drains and in case of big size drains concrete slabs are to be cast. The space recovered by covering the drains, can be utilized for car parking and other purposes thereby GMC/GMDA can earn handsome revenue for the state. Further, above the car parking area water channels can be made all along the drains in the city for rain water harvesting. The overflowing storm water can be stored in underground reservoirs.  Reservoirs are to be constructed in various locations in the city for this purpose. The water in the reservoirs can be used for useful purposes including for drinking. The whole process of rain water harvesting would give a great relief to the people from artificial flood created by rain during monsoon. Very big size drains where covering and making water channels are not feasible, the high-rise wire mesh fencing are to be constructed to arrest garbage to fall into the stream. Even, by lane storm water drains are to be fully covered. This huge task can be taken up as joint venture (public and private partnership) project. To make the above more viable, expertise and technology from Rotterdam (Netherland) may be taken. "Rotterdam is famous in the world for its progressive approach to water magement. Around 60% of Netherland living below sea level and despite the fact Netherlands has developed sustaible water magement systems to cope with changing weather patterns and extreme downpours. Green roofs and flood controlling water plazas are some of the measures helping Rotterdam to stay ahead of others to mitigate water fury".

* To be concluded