GUWAHATI, Dec 13 - The second phase of Ward Talks was held on Saturday at the Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan Park, Bharalumukh.
The concept, initiated by a city-based weekly as a programme of interaction between the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), other authorities concerned and citizens of the city, discussed ways to address issues such as drinking water, traffic, lack of public toilets, lack of streetlights etc., in Ward No 8 of the GMC. This ward includes several areas of Bharalumukh, Athgaon and parts of Fatasil, said a statement.
On the panel of the event were Udayaditya Gogoi, Collector of GMC, Bhaben Sharma, Executive Engineer, Division 1 of GMC, Sunita Bhilwariya, Councillor of Ward No 8 and Jagadish Chandra Das, Ward President of Ward No 8.
The event, which witnessed participation of the public, discussed ways to permanently resolve the issues of flood, garbage collection and de-siltation of drainage systems in the ward.
The area had faced the problem of existing water pipes being disrupted during the installation of pipelines of the water supply scheme by GMDA/JICA. Following the procedure, several households had to suffer because of lack of water.
Gogoi assured that the problem of water supply would be addressed within the next 15 days. �GMC has been carrying out drives against illegally installed motor pumps. In the process we have so far seized 153 pumps and till date 95 people have paid a fine of Rs 20,000,� he said.
Regarding the issue of streetlights, the Collector told the gathering about Project Jyoti, through which one can have one�s own streetlight against a fee of Rs 100 and GMC will bear the cost of installation of the lightpost and an LED light.
Gogoi said till date 107 applications have been received from Ward No 8 and the streetlights would be installed within the first week of February.
He also said that in case of any problems the people should also come up with ideas and solutions.
Speaking about the lack of public toilets, Councillor Bhilwariya said that the problem can only be solved with the co-operation of public. �If the people of the area can provide a location for construction of a public toilet, the same will be addressed as soon as possible,� he said.
The GMC Collector also assured that if there is any government land available, the area will be allocated with public toilets. Some locals suggested three locations for construction of public toilets in the area.
The first round of Ward Talks was held last month.
