Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Govt’s Guwahati-related schemes a classic example of misplaced priorities: SGBG

By The Assam Tribune

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 10: Targeting the State government and its Guwahati Development Department (GDD) for ignoring the civic issues of Guwahati including the faulty sewerage system in the past five years, NGO Save Guwahati Build Guwahati (SGBG) today said that the present government’s Guwahati-related schemes are a classic example of its misplaced priorities.

The NGO asserted that while the Government of Manipur has already established a sewage treatment plant for Imphal and is planning to roll out the second phase of the scheme shortly, the condition of the sewerage and drainage system in Guwahati continues to be pathetic.

“We are delighted to note that one of our sister states Manipur, went ahead and established a sewage treatment plant for Imphal. Realising the urgent need for the plant for pollution control in Imphal, the Government of Manipur implemented the project. On the other hand, despite being the biggest city and gateway to the North East, Guwahati is unable to make a sewage treatment plant till date,” SGBG president Krishno K Borooah stated.

“The State fund which was released for the present bridge over the Brahmaputra could have been delayed for a few years as we already have two bridges over the river and a number of a ferries for crossing the river. The government should have prioritised sewage treatment plants because all households discharge water from their septic tanks to the drains which flow to the river, polluting it. It is the same water that the GMC pumps for the citizens. It won’t be wrong to say that 60 to 70 per cent people suffer from various stomach-related ailments due to our faulty sewerage and drainage system,” he added.

The NGO further stated that the dream of making Guwahati a smart city and a tourism hotspot won’t become a reality until the civic issues of the city get a priority at policy level as well while planning infrastructure development.

The NGO also urged the citizens to cooperate with the civic authorities in keeping the drains clean to avoid perennial water logging in the city during the monsoons.

“We urge the government not to waste money in superficial decoration of the city without solving the basic issues of garbage, drainage, streetlights and footpath encroachment. Any short-term or quick-fix measures to solve the city’s civic issues would aggravate the woes of the citizens,” added Borooah.

Next Story