JORHAT, July 26 � Jorhat witnessed a massive artificial flood in several residential areas on Friday, which caused immense hardship to the citizens as lanes and government offices were submerged.
Kakoty Gaon, Bahnbari, Kushal Nagar, Nazir Ali, Dorongichuk, Na Ali, Rajamaidam and several other urban localities were the worst hit. Poor drainage system has been cited as the �actual cause� of the problem by the local residents.
As there was knee-deep water in the lanes, it was difficult for elderly citizens and school-going children to reach their homes without the help of other family members.
�It has never happened in our town earlier. The officials concerned are yet to heed our problems,� said an elderly citizen of Dorongichuk.
In most of the affected areas, the residents criticised the district administration which has allegedly not been properly monitoring and evaluating the drainage construction works undertaken by the Jorhat Development Authority, Jorhat Municipal Board and other departments concerned.
According to retired engineer Bhaba Chetia, a sum of over Rs 30 crore has been spent on drainage construction and cleaning of the Tocklaijan, Tarajan and Mohuajan rivulets since 2004 by the Jorhat Development Authority, Jorhat Municipal Board and some other departments concerned. But there has been no respite from the problem of waterlogging and artificial floods in the town.
�Documents show that public money was spent on works which lacked technical parameters. Because of technical loopholes and misappropriation of a major chunk of the allotted funds, the people of Jorhat have been suffering from flash floods and waterlogging,� Chetia alleged.
Demanding a probe into the poor drainage construction in the town, several senior citizens said that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi should take up the matter seriously and resolve the problem of artificial floods in his hometown.