GUWAHATI, May 8 � A public meeting has demanded immediate resignation of the Guwahati Development Department (GDD) Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from the post for his reported statement on the issue of city�s flash flood. The participants of the meeting described the statement of the Minister that Guwahati cannot be saved from flash flood because of the massive encroachment on its hills as irresponsible. The minister had made the above statement at a press conference on April 29 last.
The participants of the meeting also raised their voice against indiscriminate encroachment on the city hills and water bodies and also against the faulty Government policies of encouraging such encroachments.
The meeting held at the Rehabari Naamghar premises recently under the presidentship of Amal Dutta Lahkar, demanded immediate steps to bring an end to the practice of granting land patta to the encroachers of the city hills and water bodies. It also called for urgent steps to preserve the city wetlands like the Silsako Beel, Barsola and Sarusola Beels, Deepor Beel and Bondajan in accordance with the relevant legal provisions.
The Government should come up with a firm stand to evict the encroachers from the hills and water bodies of the city and enhance the water carrying capacities of the natural channels like the Bharalu, Mora Bharalu and Bahini rivers by undertaking regular drives to remove the silt and other loads impeding their flow and applying modern technology to maintain their natural gradients.
Besides, the ban on earth cutting on the city hills should be strictly maintained and for earth filling purposes, the river sand should only be allowed to be used in the city. For the purpose, river sand should be made easily available to the people, said the participants of the meeting in another resolution.
They also demanded a high-level enquiry into the irregularities in implementing the Rs 5.5 crore GMDA project for conservation and development of the Barsola Beel.