GUWAHATI, May 2 - The Assam Urban Infrastructure Investment Programme (AUIIP) is preparing a draft detailed project report (DPR) on the proposed storm water drainage project for the city.
The draft DPR is nearing completion and is expected to be reviewed later this month by the technical committee formed by the State government.
�The Guwahati Development Department had constituted a technical committee to advise the State government for finalising views and comments on the draft concept plan of AUIIP for comprehensive improvement of drainage infrastructure of Guwahati city. The technical committee approved the draft concept plan of AUIIP at the first meeting held earlier this year. AUIIP is now preparing a draft DPR which will be reviewed at the second technical committee meeting and it is almost ready. The second meeting of the committee will be held during the current month to review the draft DPR prepared on the basis of the concept plan,� said sources.
A proposal was submitted in October last year to the Department of Economic Affairs of the Union government for utilisation of the saved amount worth USD 10 million under Tranche One of Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding for inclusion of one package of Guwahati drainage.
It had been proposed to include work on construction of RCC box drain from PIBCO point to Silsako Beel via Chandan Nagar and VIP Road from Bahini river for diversion of Bahini river, along with interception and diversion of flow from the panchayat directorate to Silsako Beel by construction of RCC box drain along Panjabari road and Fakruddin Ali Ahmed Road and construction of RCC box drain along the lower part of Juripar road (near Sai Temple to Silsako Beel), as well as construction of drainage pumping station at BT College.
�The proposal was not considered by DEA and ADB at a tripartite meeting held in January. The entire cost is now considered to be included under Tranche Two,� said sources.
AUIIP�s concept plan for comprehensive improvement of drainage infrastructure of south Guwahati, particularly for low lying critical areas, will be done by utilisation of the saved amount of USD 50 million under Tranche 2 of ADB funding.
AUIIP�s concept plan of Guwahati drainage envisages construction of drainage pumping stations at six locations, including construction of storm sewer networks and laying MS force mains, to pump out storm run-off directly to river Brahmaputra for avoiding flash flooding in the city, which would be implemented under ADB funding in the next working season of 2016.
A stakeholders� meeting was held under the chairmanship of Bhupesh Das, Additional Project Director of AUIIP, on April 28 to discuss the concept plan on the proposed storm water drainage project.
Representatives of various welfare societies and local residents� associations, including Nabin Nagar Welfare Society and Anil Nagar Rajgarh Unnayan Samiti, were present at the meeting.
Regarding the problem of availability of land at AIDC and BT College, welfare societies have suggested finding alternative land in Lachitnagar and Anil Nagar areas. There is also a plan to consider construction of a pumping station at an alternative location near Rajgarh Road.
�The master plan may include activities like increase in capacity of Bharalu river, development of drains along southern side of the railway track from Chandmari area, diversion of Meghalaya water towards Bonda outfall and along the southern side of NH-37, diversion of Bahini river, diversion of Basistha river to Khanaian outfall along southern side of Deepor Beel, increase in retention capacity of natural water bodies and development of tertiary drains of city area,� said sources.
�The aim is to settle all proposals and issues on the drainage schemes within May,� they added.
Dwip Baruah, president of Nabin Nagar Welfare Association, said that a meeting of the local welfare societies had last year authorised the representatives of the Nabin Nagar Welfare Society and the Anil Nagar Rajgarh Unnayan Samiti to interact with authorities concerned and to submit memoranda if necessary, to find a permanent solution to the problem of artificial flooding in the city.
�A memorandum was thereafter sent to the Prime Minister through the Member of Parliament, Guwahati. There was swift action from the PMO and the State government was asked to take immediate action for mitigation of the problem. Accordingly, the State government has entrusted the GMDA to submit their observation on the memorandum submitted by the welfare societies of Guwahati and to suggest appropriate measures to tackle the artificial flood problem to the level of satisfaction of the sufferers,� he said.
Baruah added that the GMDA also held a meeting with the welfare societies last week. �At both the meetings, � one held by GMDA and the other held by AUIIP � it was agreed to take certain steps on top priority basis. These include work to divert the Bahini river from various places of GS Road to Silsako Beel, to divert the accumulated water in Chandmari area to Sola Beel along the railway tracks and to construct a pumping station on the southern side of Rajgarh Road to pump out the accumulated water in Pub-Sarania area,� Baruah said.
