GUWAHATI, Feb 9 � Welfare committees and local citizens� bodies from various parts of the city gathered yesterday and adopted a resolution seeking intervention of the authorities to undertake certain measures to ensure a flood-free Guwahati.
The meeting was held at the Sanatan Dharmasabha premises in Jonali under the chairmanship of Dwip Baruah, president of the Nabin Nagar Welfare Society.
It was attended by representatives of welfare committees, Mahila Samitis, Unnayan Samitis and Namghar Samitis of various localities including Nabin Nagar, Anil Nagar, Tarun Nagar, Lachit Nagar, Bharalumukh, Hatigaon, Mathura Nagar and Bamunimaidam. Engineers, technical experts and resource persons were also present on the occasion.
The meeting also decided to send a delegation to meet the Chief Minister soon to seek his intervention for faster completion of works being taken up to prevent artificial flooding so that all pre-monsoon works are completed within next two months.
Baruah said that the meeting called for clearing up of the underground storm-water drains which have got choked and for their proper activation so that rain-water can flow unhindered to natural water-bodies.
It called for augmentation of the rain-water discharge and retaining capacity of the Bharalu river on a war footing and for the deepening and widening of the river.
Besides, the meet also demanded that the rain-water from Meghalaya and other places flowing through the Bahini rivulet should be diverted to Bondajan via Silsako Beel and finally to the Brahmaputra.
Baruah said that the experts and local committees opined that the proposed drain along National Highway 37 from Koinadhara Hill area needs to be connected to Basistha river near ISBT and it should then be connected from Pamohi to Pachadhara Nadi, Umkha Nadi, Kalmoni Nadi and Batha Nalla and finally to river Kulsi.
The accumulated vast volume of water in Chandmari area from Kannachal Hill, Krishna Nagar and Bamunimaidam areas should be diverted along the railway drains and finally to the drain leading to the Chala beel via Paltan Bazar by proper augmentation, the resolution said.
It also called for proper surveys along all the foothills surrounding Guwahati and putting up of necessary sill tanks or silt traps in and around the city for effective arrangement of the drainage system.
The meeting also demanded enhancement of the water retaining capacity by de-silting, deepening and widening water bodies like the Silsako beel, the Deepor beel, the Borsola beel, the Sola beel and the Mora Bharalu.
Baruah said that another point supported by the local committees and experts is for lowering of the sill level of the sluice gate at Bharalumukh to facilitate higher discharge of water and if required to shift the sluice gate downstream for maintaining proper gradient.
It called upon the State government and the local authorities to take urgent measures with regard to all these points.
