GUWAHATI, Aug 8 - Unplanned construction work and lack of proper drainage system are posing a big challenge to the control of the water flowing down the hills of Meghalaya to the eastern part of Guwahati.
The water flowing down from Meghalaya has affected a large part of eastern Guwahati including Panjabari, Sixmile and Khanapara, along with the NH-37 at Jorabat.
�There is waterlogging in our area during incessant rainfall in Meghalaya. And even after the rain stops it takes the water a long time to dry up or get drained away. So we suffer whether it is raining or not. I have been staying in this area for the last seven years and have seen that waterlogging is becoming a serious problem day by day,� Ashraful Khan, a shopkeeper of Juripar area said.
Khan said the only drainage system in the area is not enough to carry away such a huge volume of water flowing down from Meghalaya during monsoon. �The water that gushes down from Meghalaya spills over to the road within a few minutes after overflowing the drain. This causes panic in the area. The government should expand the drainage system to fix the issue,� he said.
T Hussain, a resident of Juripar area said, �Waterlogging in our area became more serious after construction of countless apartments. Earlier the rainwater, as also the water that flows down from the Hills of Meghalaya, used to find a way out within a short time. So there was no question of heavy waterlogging. Now the mushrooming apartments have changed the entire scenario. There is a serious lack of proper planning. The authorities concerned should first take proper measures to set up an effective drainage system before granting building permission. Now many bylanes of the area have become low-lying stretches and remain under water for most part of the monsoon season.�
On August 3, a minor named Noor Hussain was washed away by the Bahini river near Rukminigaon here during the flash flood caused by the water gushing down in torrents from Meghalaya. His body was recovered the next day from Dispur area. �Last year, one person was drowned in the same place where Noor had been swept away,� Dip Nath, a shopkeeper, said.
Speaking on the issue, Pulak Mahanta, CEO of the District Disaster Management Authority, Kamrup (Metro), said, �We will submit a proposal to the PWD to further develop the drainage system in this area. At the same time, the people should be aware that it is necessary to keep adequate space for drainage before taking up any construction activity.�
