Artificial water-logging causes concern

Addressing media persons here, members of the Sangha pointed out that the bed of the Bharalu has been rising rapidly since 1994 due to factors like encroachment, dumping of waste and failure of the concerned departments to implement the schemes for Bharalu and Bahini rivers in true spirit.

�In the year 2000-2001, work was undertaken to clean the Bharalu river under the Rs 100 crore Guwahati Storm Water Drainage scheme. But surprisingly, the scheme did not cover the stretch from Hengerabari to Rajdhani Nursery which has resulted in unabated encroachment of the river in this stretch,� said Devendra Nath Kalita, president of the Sangha adding that encroachment has constricted the Bharalu further compounding the problem of water logging.

�The flow of Bharalu from Hengerabari to Rajdhani Nursery has been obstructed with encroachment and dumping of garbage. This problem has been further aggravated by the two pipes of Urban Water Supply and Sewarage Board under the bridge at the Matia Injal Path (Nayanpur),� said Kalita. He said that as these two pipes are hindering the flow of the Bharalu on account of being below the high flood level, they needed to be lifted above the high flood level to address the problem of water logging.

Kalita said that the residents of the area have approached all the authorities concerned requesting them for necessary action in regard, but so far no step has been taken.

Referring to the Drainage Master Plan of 1971 which clearly mentions that the waters flowing down from the Hengerabari hills should be channelled to Silsaku Beel, Kalita said that this provision has been violated by the PWD which has channelled the water to Bharalu instead affecting the carrying capacity of the Bharalu. �To ease the pressure on Bharalu, the authorities concerned should channel the water to Silsaku Beel as per the provision of the master plan,� said Kalita.