GUWAHATI, April 5 - On a day when two persons lost their lives in a landslide at Bonda, the Kamrup Metro administration ordered a ban on all kinds of earth cutting in the district.
An order to this effect was issued by Dr M Angamuthu, Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup Metro and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), under provisions of the Disaster Management Act.
�Two persons died in a landslide incident at Chapaidang under Dispur revenue circle due to such unauthorised hill cutting today. If haphazard, unscientific and unplanned earth cutting and earth filling are allowed to continue unhindered, it may cause a catastrophe, mishap and calamity of great magnitude in the district, putting the public in general in a situation of great inconvenience and hardship,� stated the order.
The administration has directed �all the departments concerned including the enforcement agencies like revenue circle officers, police, forest department, PWD, transport department, soil conservation department, and planning and regulatory bodies like GMC, GMDA and panchayat functionaries not to permit any earth cutting and earth filling activity in the hilly terrain, water bodies and in low-lying areas of the district.�
It said, �In view of the grave situation arising out of the recent landslide incidents in and around Guwahati city, it is also hereby directed that no earth cutting should be allowed till the monsoon season is over, even if permission has been procured from the regulatory authorities like GMDA and GMC for any construction activity. It is hereby directed not to allow carrying of earth procured after hill cutting. Before procuring, the procurer should ensure that the earth is not out of hill cutting.�
The administration said that all departments concerned and regulatory bodies would take steps to review any permission accorded during the current year and take steps to cancel the permission forthwith in the most vulnerable areas prone to landslides and flash floods considering the present risk and vulnerability in the hilly terrains, water bodies and low-lying areas of the district.
�It is observed that unscientific and haphazard earth cutting and earth filling in the hillocks as well as in the low-lying areas of the district for unplanned construction works destabilise the natural earth slopes, block natural drains, clog natural and artificial drains, which triggers severe landslides, artificial flood, persistent waterlogging during the rainy days, resulting in substantial loss of human and cattle lives and destruction of properties.
�Haphazard human activity and wanton earth cutting lead to downslope movement of rocks, debris and earth under the influence of gravity and also trigger processes like heavy rain, storms, cyclone, floods, earthquakes, etc.,� said the DC.
