GUWAHATI, June 19 � The Guwahati Mati Pattakaran Sangram Samittee (GMPSS) has called for a Central Government-funded comprehensive scheme to free the city from flash flood. It has also called for measures to channelise the Bharalu, Basisth etc rivers of the city with adequate pumping facilities at suitable locations as one of the major steps to free the city from the problem of flash flood.
In a memorandum to Guwahati Development Department Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Samittee also suggested implementation of the Guwahati Water Bodies (Preservation and Conservation) Act, 2008 with the required firmness. The legislation seeks to protect the city wetlands like the Sarusola, Borsola, Silsako and Deepor Beels as natural water bodies and to develop them as eco-tourism recreational centres.
To tackle the storm run-off from the city hills, the Samittee has suggested construction of dams-cum-roads around the hills. Lakes in the foothill areas, between or below the dams and the hills, may also be built to contain the storm run-off with plans to develop them as recreational centres with parks, picnic spots, playgrounds etc, says the Samittee.
The hills should also be restored through scientific and sustainable management practices so as to prevent their silt discharge. The feasibility of constructing some �silt ponds� at suitable locations on the lower elevations of the hills may also be studied. Clean water from these ponds may be released through feeder channels to the nearest drainage channels to arrest silt discharge. The silt retained by these ponds may be utilized subsequently for filling low lands wherever needed, says the Samittee.
Besides, it has said, secondary and tertiary drains should be designed and constructed after proper survey and collection of last five years� storm water generation data. These drains should be built as underground structures. They should be provided with invert depth to prevent storm water accumulation and silt pits and catch water chambers to facilitate their cleaning.
The Samittee has also called for steps to declare RG Baruah Road, Nabin Nagar, Anil Nagar and other flood-prone areas of the city as �flood prone� and special schemes for these areas.
