GUWAHATI, March 21 � After facing public ire over the years due to inaction, the Kamrup Metro district administration, along with the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and other civic bodies, have started pre-monsoon work to prevent artificial flooding in the city.
Official sources told The Assam Tribune that besides drawing up a comprehensive action plan under which preliminary work on clearing silt, garbage and other wastes from all drains and rivulets in the city, the administration has also directed all the departments to prepare disaster management plans within the next fortnight.
Private contractors have been allotted work for clearing up of 83 drains and rivulets, while work in ten others have been taken up by the GMC. In addition, the PWD and Water Resources departments have also started work for clearing of silts in some other areas.
The initial clearing up operation is to be completed by April 15 by private contractors and the GMC and in places where the PWD and Water Resources departments are at work, including dredging work at river Bharalu, by April 30.
Meanwhile, the Indian Railways has also started clearing four drains between Chandmari and Anuradha Cinema hall localities.
The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has started training volunteers from some city-based NGOs for use in clearing up blockages in other drains and rivulets, officials said.
�All departments have been directed to prepare disaster management plans within 15 days and also draw up a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Special attention is being given to the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport to ensure that artificial flooding does not affect operations and hamper passenger services as happened earlier,� an official said.
He said dredging work has commenced at Borsola Beel and similar exercise would soon be taken up at other natural water-bodies in and around the city.
�While the first phase of the work will be completed by April-end, work will continue till the monsoon season. Man-hole covers are also to be installed across the city. There will be weekly review meetings by the DC every Monday,� the official said.
The district administration has also sought details from the GMC about commercial establishments which have not placed garbage bins outside their premises, and whether instructions have been given to them. The exercise is also being undertaken at North Guwahati.
