JORHAT, June 2 � The Jorhat district committee of Asam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad today staged a dharna protesting against the failure of the district administration, Jorhat Development Authority and Jorhat Municipality Board to control artificial floods even after the third consecutive day.
It alleged that the non-implementation of the new masterplan in Johat town is the cause behind various problems that have been occurring from time to time.
The validity of the earlier masterplan was over in 1991. But the new masterplan has not been prepared till date. Jorhat is going on without a masterplan for the last 20 years and during these years the population, business establishment, industrial area multiplied into several times than the earlier.
The youth organisation submitted a memorandum to the Jorhat Deputy Commissioner setting a deadline to inform what plan it is going to be undertaken by the district administration to control the artificial floods in the town, otherwise, the organisation would conduct more protest programmes in near future.
Meanwhile, the rainwaters today paralysed normal life in the town. Some local people alleged that the railway department blocked the drains near the railway line near Na-ali here. They began to dig the drains themselves with an excavator in that spot, which they said caused damage to the gas pipe and water supply pipes there. Fearing an untoward incident, firefighters reached the spot immediately and with great effort the emission of gas was stopped.
The sensation, however, prevails in the neighbouring areas regarding this incident.
Some people blocked the railway line there and stopped the Janshatabdi Express demanding clearance of the drains by the railway department.
On the other hand, a heated atmosphere arose at Dhenuchucha near the Bhogdoi river over blocking of a drain by a businessman.
However, the police was able to bring the situation under control later.
Today, the Na-ali connecting Jorhat and Titabor was submerged under flood caused by the rainwater at Bongal Pukhuri and Lichubari. The artificial flood on the road blocked the movement of vehicles and irate public blocked the Na-ali at Bongal Pukhuri in protest against the failure of the government to control the artificial flood in the town.
On the other hand, Chandan Nagar, Suruj Nagar, Club Road and all the by-lanes between Na-ali and Club Road, also remained submerged under the artificial flood. The waters entered almost every household of the area. The flood menace in the hometown of the Chief Minister has forced the public to react against the State government�s trumpeting of the development slogan.
The police colony is under water for the third consecutive day. Likewise, there is still knee-deep water inside the houses at Sonari Gaon, Kakoti Gaon, Bamun Gaon and the large area along Malow Ali. Fishes have also come out of the fisheries in the areas taking advantage of the flash flood.
In 2007, the Chief Minister while taking rest in the Jorhat Circuit House had witnessed the artificial flood problem in its compound.
He had then sent an instruction to prepare a plan to solve the problem. But due to utter negligence of the authority concerned, the plan has not been prepared till date.
