GUWAHATI, Feb 18 � A delegation representing Nabin Nagar Welfare Society, Anil Nagar-Rajgarh Unnayan Samity, Nabin Nagar Unnayan Samity and Dipshikha Mahila Samity met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on February 16 and apprised him about the intense resentment of the people of the various areas at the manner in which departments like PWD, WRD and GMC are going their own ways in the pre-mansoon flood prevention works keeping the people in the dark,� said a statement issued by Dwip Baruah, President of the Nabin Nagar Welfare Society.
It added, �The Chief Minister shared some of his experiences and views on the flood situation of Guwahati in particular and the whole of the state in general. He stressed that the solution must be found out on technical merit, considering the nearly intractable factors and parameters which are getting even more complex by the day. That is why experts from IITs have been involved in the process.�
The delegation requested Gogoi to get the representation examined by a high level team in which technical experts and representatives from the areas will also participate.
�The Chief Minister assured that MGVK Bhanu, the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, would be entrusted with this task for necessary follow up to convene such a meeting at the earliest,� it said.
The release said that subsequent to the devastating flooding of the city in September 2014, the government at the highest level had chalked out a series of measures starting with freeing the water bodies from encroachments, clearing and channelising them to designated exit or outfall points, providing adequate pumping at critical locations, de-silting and cleaning city drains, among other measures.
�There was, however, no interactive discussions with the most affected party, i.e. flood victims residing in the chronically endemic areas. Thus, the PWD recently tried to install a cross culvert near Zoo Narengi Tiniali of RG Baruah Road, which, residents feared, would further aggravate the flash flood problems in Nabin Nagar, Anil Nagar and other areas. Faced with vehement street protest and public meetings, the said department had dropped the scheme,� it said.
Baruah added that another public meeting held on February 8 at Sanatan Dharma Sabha, attended by representatives of welfare societies, unnayan samitis, mahila samitis, namghar samitis and other social organizations from many areas of the city, adopted a resolution to send a delegation to apprise the Chief Minister of the piecemeal works done by the administration instead of prioritising the more urgent ones and to urge him to intervene.
Accordingly, the delegation met Gogoi to seek his intervention on the critical issue.
