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Feasibility on diversion of Bahini, Bharalu

By Ajit Patowary

GUWAHATI, Sept 9 � A four-men IIT Roorkee team of researchers has suggested study of the feasibility of diversion of the floodwaters of the Bahini and the Bharalu to the Deepor Beel and subsequently to the Kulsi, Krishnai and Dudhnoi rivers to solve the problem of flash flood, which is making life miserable for the Guwahatians. Together with this, the team headed by Prof Nayan Sarma, has also suggested study of the feasibility of creation of temporary flood detention reservoirs at suitable sites like in the depressed areas, wetlands etc., and rigorous implementation of the soil conservation measures.

The team, comprising research scholars Dheeraj Kumar, Harinarayan Tiwari and S Mondal, besides Prof Sarma, suggested that study of the feasibility of the above idea should be included in a comprehensive study. This comprehensive study should also include adoption of appropriate �Storage Cell concept� as was used for Bangkok city flooding study, or the �Cellular Automata concept� to enable distributed estimation of floodwater and storage.

In this respect, the team has explained that in-depth detailed hydro-meteorological and rainfall run-off analyses are essentially required for estimation of the distributed runoff volume contribution, sediment entrainment-transport-deposition processes covering the built-up areas, vegetation areas and hilly catchment areas to arrive at a flawless conclusion on the issue.

Besides, a comprehensive investigation of Greater Guwahati area with the help of multi-spectral and multi-date optical, microwave satellite imagery for assessment of Land Use-Land Cover dynamics, Cartosat-1 or any other such active sensor satellite image for development of digital elevation model (DEM) of Greater Guwahati area of suitable resolution for faithful topographic representation of the current scenario, should also be undertaken. These satellite data products should be suitably supplemented with the required ground-based data, said the team.

As part of the study, comprehensive Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Analysis (DA) should also be undertaken for the existing drainage network, both natural and man-made, to explicitly identify and quantify the systemic constraints, disaster mitigation and allied weaknesses, socio-economic issues and other inadequacies inhibiting desired floodwater disposal speedily.

On the basis of qualitative and quantitative definition of the intricate urban flooding problem in Greater Guwahati area through such comprehensive analyses, it should be endeavoured to undertake multi-disciplinary techno-economic exercise to evolve and evaluate sustainable comprehensive solutions on long-term perspectives, said the team.

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