GUWAHATI, Dec 3 - Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) Chairman Dhiren Baruah has urged Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to create a cell in his office to deal with the mitigation of flash flood problem in the city.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, Baruah said, �In regard to the problem of urban flooding, I would like to make a suggestion that the mitigation efforts may be directly controlled, monitored and managed by your high office. A cell may be specially established for the purpose under your chairmanship, comprising technocrats and urban planners, along with citizen representatives, who would directly report to you.�
�The cell may be empowered accordingly and all the government agencies which are involved in flood mitigation in the city would implement the schemes/ measures with the approval of this cell. Under this arrangement, the flood mitigation efforts will get the direction and leadership, which is urgently required,� Baruah added.
In this connection, Baruah also suggested that the pumping house located on the Bharalu should be shifted to around 300 to 400 metres towards the outfall of the rivulet and this will further deepen its bed and increase its water carrying capacity.
Moreover, an integrated project for the city hills is also needed to be taken up considering the stormwater flow pattern and the sediment yield, he said.
In his letter, Baruah also suggested an efficient waste plastic management initiative which will help generate livelihood. �The outputs of such scientific management of plastic waste can also be used to build public roads as being practised in major cities in the country,� he added.
