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Admin steps up effort to remove encroachments

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 27 - The Kamrup (Metro) district administration has stepped up efforts to coordinate with other departments and local bodies to tackle the menace of artificial floods in the city during the coming monsoon season.

The authorities are willing to use even provisions of the Disaster Management Act for clearing of encroachments from channels and water bodies.

In his first formal interaction with the media since taking over earlier this month, Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner Virendra Mittal said today that artificial flood is the biggest problem affecting the city, and since assuming charge, he has so far held three meetings with officials from various departments � from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and the district administration, as well as with the Mayor and other elected representatives on finding ways to work jointly to prevent such incidents in the monsoon season.

Mittal said he has inspected most of the localities which are generally affected by artificial floods during the rainy season and has issued directions to various departments to carry out preventive measures before the monsoon. Show-cause notices have been issued to some staff of the Dispur Revenue Circle for dereliction of duty in this regard.

�I have directed the GMC to take care of the connecting drains in the bylanes of various localities to ensure that they do not get clogged. Wherever debris is found, instructions have been given to have those cleared within 24 hours,� said Mittal.

On deaths due to electrocution during floods, which took place quite a few times last year in the city, Mittal said discussions have been held with the APDCL and both sides agreed on certain measures to ensure that incidents like those of 2017 are not repeated.

The district administration has also contacted the Guwahati Development Department with regard to decorative lights installed at various places in the city to find out about the safety measures in case of flooding.

Efforts are on to streamline the system of cable TV wires which have been put up at various places on electric poles by operators.

�In some cases in recent days, we have used provisions of the Disaster Management Act to clear encroachments,� said the DC.

Mittal said focus has also been put on training personnel for dealing with land-related issues using the online mode.

�I have got in touch with the City Police Commissioner on ways to work for a proper traffic management plan,� said the DC.

He said the administration was looking to involve donors for setting up public toilets at major locations. The DC said he has requested all government offices in the city to open �May I Help You� counters for the benefit of the public.

Mittal also said NRC update work in Kamrup (Metro) was progressing satisfactorily.

With regard to Aadhaar, he said 42 enrolment centres in the district have been identified. Of the total, 22 are in rural areas and 20 in urban areas.

�Two rounds of training have been given to the verifiers. Now, the General Administration Department (GAD) will appoint the personnel who will be involved in the enrolment process. Work on enrolment will start as soon as notification is issued by the GAD,� said Mittal, adding that nationalised banks have been requested to open more Aadhaar enrolment centres.

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