GUWAHATI, May 11 � Voluntary organisation Save Guwahati Build Guwahati (SGBG) has demanded immediate steps to free the Paltanbazar wetland from encroachment. This wetland was earlier a part of the Solabeel wetland system, but developmental activities have now snapped its link with the main wetland.
SGBG president Dhiren Barua told this newspaper that the area on which the Kali Mandir, Sankar Mandir, Sankar Kristi Bikash Kendra are located was originally a wetland area. Encroachment has made this area vulnerable to inundation during rainy season. There is no stormwater drainage system to drain out the rainwater from this area.
Bhangagarh etc: The stormwater of the Christian Basti, Srimantapur, a part of Bhangagarh, parts of Rupnagar and Birubari earlier used to reach the Bharalu through a drain in the present-day Ramkrishna Mission area. At present, this drain is closed. This has resulted in indescribable trouble for the residents of the above areas.
Though there is another drain, which was laid between Bhangagarh-Rupnagar and Ramkrishna Mission areas, it has not been joined with the Bharalu. Now a market has been set up on this drain. Hence it is obvious that there is no let-up for the residents of the above areas from the stormwater-related woes, Barua said.
Maligaon-Gotanagar: The inmates of the railway colonies in many areas of Maligaon, Gotanagar and Pandu have been facing miserable condition during the rainy season. Stormwater occasionally inundates their abodes. Particularly, the huge drain running between Nilachal Hill and the Old Trunk Road has been the cause of misery for the residents of a vast Pandu area, Barua said.
Kumarpara etc, areas: The residents of Kumarpara, Santipur and Bharalumukh have been complaining about inundation of their areas during the rainy season. They allege that the technical faults in the sluice gates of their areas are at the root of their miseries, Barua said, pleading for an enquiry into the allegation.
The low-lying areas of Santipur are also vulnerable during the rainy season. The authorities concerned should take appropriate steps to redress this grievance of the residents of these areas, Barua said.
Bahini, Bharalu, etc: There is a need to remove the encroachments on the banks of the Bharalu and the Mora Bharalu. The courses of both the rivulets should also be deepened. Again, there is a need to take up the issue of siltation of the Bahini rivulet with the Meghalaya Government. Developmental activities in Meghalaya have been increasing the silt loads of this rivulet, resulting in the inundation of its riparian areas in the downstream areas located in the Beltola, Dispur areas of the city. The State Government should also start implementation of the scheme it has adopted to train the Bahini course, Barua said.
