GUWAHATI, May 7 � The Kamrup (Metro) district administration has launched its second phase of cleaning and de-siltation to cope with the problem of artificial flooding that has assumed a perennial status in the city.
According to official sources, the second phase has been extended to some of the important road side covered drains and open drains in various wards and would be completed by May 23.
A total of Rs 24,46,100 has been earmarked for cleaning and de-silting of road side cover drains in ward no 29 and 5. While an estimated Rs 12,24,600 would go towards cleaning of road side cover drains and open drains in ward no 7,5,12 and 18, an amount of Rs 16,58,537 has been earmarked for cleaning drains in ward no 37.
It needs to be mentioned here that under the �Go-ahead scheme� of the government, the district administration and the Water Resource department have been executing the works of cleaning and de-silting of drains and rivers.
According to the official, public support in this connection will ensure that the problem of artificial flooding is addressed to a certain extent. This problem has become so predicable in the gateway to the North East that the citizens have acclimatized themselves to being stuck in knee-deep to waist-deep water for a few hours. Two or three smart showers are enough to throw life out of gear in the city with the problem of water logging being further compounded by traffic snarls.
�One of the major factors for artificial flooding is dumping of garbage in the drains,� said the official adding that encroachment upon wetlands and hills and earth cutting were some of the other factors causing artificial flooding.
The official informed that the citizens can approach the district administration if they are not satisfied with the ongoing work of cleaning and de-silting.
