GUWAHATI, June 30 � The government has decided to undertake proactive measures including rainfall monitoring and ensuring unobstructed flow of all the natural water-carrying channels in the capital city to prevent recurrence of the recent flash-flood disaster that threw life out of gear.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority has also been requested to develop a standard operating procedure to tide over such a crisis in the city.
Addressing mediapersons on Monday, Prateek Hajela, Commissioner and Secretary (Political), Government of Assam, said that the district administration had chalked out a three-pronged approach to address the perennial artificial flooding in the gateway to the North-east through clearing of all the primary drains of illegal constructions, simultaneous dredging and action against those who gave the permission for construction.
�The recent flood in the capital city is a lesson for all of us. Along with the official efforts to address this issue, we need the cooperation of the public as well. We need to act proactively and all pumps in the city will be made operational immediately during a smart rainfall to drain out the water,� Hajela said, stressing the importance of maintaining free flow of the Bharalu to provide respite to the citizens whose miseries are getting compounded during the rainy spell.
Hajela pointed out that the Bharalu has been narrowed on several points mainly on account of encroachment for which the maximum carrying capacity of the river has been affected.
�We have also launched public awareness drives to sensitize the people living on the hills and the vulnerability of a disaster striking them most during the monsoons,� added Hajela mentioning that 366 locations have been identified as vulnerable and that residents in the hilly areas have been suggested to go for alternate accommodation at this time.
�We will limit the use of plastic as per the Act, the district administration has been instructed to stock relief materials and we will urge the citizens to keep a kit ready with some essential things including important documents during such crisis,� said Hajela.
Meanwhile, DC in-charge, Kamrup (M), M Angamuthu gave the assurance that within a fortnight the Bharalu will be cleared of encroachment.
It needs to be mentioned here that the district administration started its eviction drive from today. �This time the eviction drive is going to be more stringent and all illegal structures will be pulled down after factual verification,� announced Angamuthu adding that a permanent boundary wall for the Bharalu is being deliberated.
