GUWAHATI, Aug 11 � For a permanent solution to the problem of Guwahati flash floods, encroachment on the city hills and wetlands has to end once and for all, said the engineers of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC).
There should also be steps to check the flow of silt from the hills with scientific silt traps at proper locations and grass turfs above these silt traps. Moreover, to reduce erosion of the hill slopes, layers of the bags filled with earth should be stacked systematically on the hill slopes, they said.
Further, they said, the Bharalu should be provided with some extra width so that it could store a large portion of the storm water generated in the city. This is needed as many of the city wetlands, which served the city as the natural storm water reservoirs, have been eliminated and storm water runoff absorption capacity of the city hills also has been reduced.
They pointed out the fact that about 16 feet of the Mora Bharalu width have been reduced between Barsapara and Gorchuk. Moreover, the original width of the Bharalu has also been lost due to encroachment on both sides of the river, the engineers said.
Also, there is the unavoidable need to set up a coordination committee with the involvement of all the State and Central Government departments/agencies concerned like the PWD, GDD, GMDA, GMC, Town and Country Planning, Water Resources, Railways, etc. in this regard, they said.
The GMC engineers have already suggested the Railways that two big drains from Chandmari to Bharalumukh should be laid to carry the storm water generated in this area to the Bharalu and also to use the drains as storm water reservoirs for a few hours.
It is also pointed out by the GMC engineers that some railway culverts have been blocked by silts and garbage and some other culverts of that department do not have the adequate width for the required passage of storm water.
These culverts, like the one at the Ambari area and the other by the side of the LOG Hindi High School, among others, need to be replaced with wider structures. Besides, the bed level of the Ambari main drain, which is linked to the railway culvert, is around 1.5 feet below that of the railway culvert, said the GMC engineers.
They also suggested firm legal provisions to impose heavy fines on those, who dump garbage on the drains and natural waterbodies.
The IIT-Guwahati has been installing silt chambers in the Barsapara Games Village area. Moreover, an IIT-Guwahati Core Committee is also taking up the issue of funds with the Central Government for a project to lay layers of earth-filled gunny bags at the erosion-prone hill slopes of the city as an anti-erosion measure, the engineers said.
Meanwhile, the GMC is implementing a Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) scheme to provide residential flats to around 1100 below poverty line (BPL) families. For the purpose, apartments are being built at Fatasil, Morasali and Amingaon in two phases. The first phase construction is under progress at Fatasil and Morasali.
It is expected that about 350 flats at Fatasil could be handed over to the beneficiaries before the next Durga Puja festival.
The civic body is also holding dialogues with the Central Government to implement the Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana for the same purpose.
These schemes are expected to reduce the anthropogenic pressure on the city hills and wetlands, said the engineers.
