GUWAHATI, April 19 - At least four houses were submerged following incessant rains since last night in the Jaypur area of Kharghuli, prompting the families to abandon the houses and move to safer places. The area is a low-lying area in the foothills of Kharghuli.
Officials in the administration said the flooding occurred due a blockage in a private drainage system and action has been taken to clear it at the earliest. Circle Officer LN Saharia who visited the location today said GMC workers were engaged to pump out the water during the day.
�The drain which diverts the rainwater coming down from the hills to the Brahmaputra has been blocked. PWD is assisting the person on whose land the drain is located, to clear it,� he said.
The four houses have been submerged almost up to the rooftops. The families have shifted to rented accommodations or to houses of their relatives and friends. The problem in the area is not new.
After the drain was blocked a few weeks back, the Kamrup Metro district administration had directed the Circle Officer of Guwahati revenue circle to file an FIR against the individual identified as Dhiren Mahanta.
The drain was blocked due to earth filling and placing of concrete slabs over the drain by Mahanta on his periodic patta land, causing inundation of the locality.
It is also found that Mahanta has blocked the smooth passage of the public drain by totally covering the manholes without intimation to any concerning authority.
DC M Angamuthu had directed Mahanta to clear the entire accumulated soil from over the drain and also dismantle the slabs as per suggestion of PWD (Roads) division and GMC within two days. He was also directed to bear the entire cost of the intended work.
�Mahanta was not arrested after he assured of clearing the drain. In fact, he had started the work about a week back, but the weather has hampered the progress,� officials in the administration said.
The Circle Officer said additional works like clearing of the blocked portion for smooth passage of the drain will be taken up by the PWD and the GMC.
