GUWAHATI, June 15 - Officials from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and water resources department took part in a public meeting with representatives of local welfare societies of the city at the Sanatan Dharma Sabha on RG Baruah Road here yesterday evening.
Dwip Baruah, president of the Nabin Nagar Welfare Society, said today that a number of issues like the problem of flash flood, diversion of water-bodies and other measures for prevention of artificial flood in Guwahati were discussed at the meeting.
He said that GMC Deputy Mayor Bijuli Kalita Medhi, GMDA Chief Executive Officer Anurag Singh, GMC Additional Commissioner Nazreen Ahmed among others, were present on the occasion. Representatives of welfare societies of different localities including Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar, Tarun Nagar, Rajgarh, Bhaskar Nagar and Hatigaon, also took part in the deliberations.
Baruah said the representatives of the welfare societies and the general public expressed concern over the slow pace of work with regard to anti-flood measures and called for work to be taken up for diversion of rainwater from Chandmari, which causes water-logging in localities like Anil Nagar and Nabin Nagar.
�We also called upon the various departments to fast-track diversion work on National Highway 37 and pointed out that diversion activity should also be undertaken in the Bahini River. A proposal was also mooted for setting up vertical pumping stations at the government land located near the Guwahati Club roundabout and also at Chandmari. We have also requested setting up of one pumping station at the western side of Rajgarh Road to pump out excess water from Pub Sarania and nearby areas,� he said.
Baruah added that the GMDA CEO told the public about various long-term projects being undertaken with Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding and also about regular activities like setting up of pumping stations and diversion from NH 37.
He said officials from the water resources department have assured of a pumping station and sluice gate on Lakhimi Path at Nabin Nagar to stop back-flow of water from the Bharalu River. �The GMC Additional Commissioner also requested the citizens to help the administration in its activities and not indulge in polluting the drains and channels by throwing garbage and refuse into them,� Baruah said.
