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Stress on integrated, scientifically-built drainage

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, April 26 � Stressing on an integrated and scientifically built drainage system in Guwahati, the Mahanagar Unnayan Samity, Guwahati, has asked the Guwahati Development Department (GDD) to make a hierarchical drainage system incorporating the rivers Bharalu, Bahini, Basistha and other outflow channels from Silsako, Borsola, Sarusola and Deepor Beel.

Responding to the public notice by the Guwahati Development Department in pursuance of the Gauhati High Court � seeking suggestions from the people for resolving the flash floods � the Samity submitted a detailed report based on its field survey of the artificial flood situation in the city.

�The State government has spent a lot of public money and time on acute water-logging during monsoons, but the situation still persists. Accurate scientific evaluation of the situation is a must before investing huge public money on the project,� Samity president Subodh Sarma told The Assam Tribune.

The report suggest a hierarchical structure of primary, secondary, tertiary and further lower order drainage system, for multilevel topography. �Area wise drainage network needs to be considered with pumping facility from lower order drains at lower elevation to higher order drain at higher elevation,� the report mentioned.

The fourteen-point report also advised against closed underground drainage system till mitigation of the problem of de-siltation.

Pointing out the need to segregate sewer water from storm water to prevent water logging, it stressed on the need of effective rain water harvesting, which can recharge the ground water and decrease the run-offs into the drainage system. �It is a paradox that on one hand such large volume of fresh rainwater is wasted and on the other hand more than half the people living in the city do not have access to drinking water,� it mentioned.

The study suggests that the no-point run-offs from the hill slopes of Meghalaya, Narakasur, Japorigogh, should be prevented by low-level walls with large diameter wells that could replenish the groundwater reserves through rainwater harvesting. This will also reduce the burden of the city drains.

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