TEZPUR, March 13 - Residents of this historic town who have been occupying Government land, including natural wetlands and have illegally constructed buildings for both residential and business purposes, will face a tough time as after the Holi festival the district administration here will launch a massive eviction drive.
Since the last several years, allegations were rife that a section of corrupt officials of Tezpur Municipal Board, Tezpur Town Development Authority and Revenue Circle Office along with some unscrupulous citizens have been covertly occupying most of the wetlands in the town.
Tezpur, which is said to rank among India�s least polluted towns, is gradually witnessing problems like waterlogging, traffic jams etc., since the past few years due to illegal occupation of Government land.
It goes without saying that Government land, particularly natural wetlands in many places here, including at Mission Chariali, Ketekibari, Murhateteli, Kacharigaon, Hatipilkhana, SC Road, Ranu Singh Road etc., have been illegally occupied, thereby creating a chaotic situation. It is alleged that along with a section of businessmen, some medical professionals too have been constructing illegal buildings over Government land for personal and nursing home purposes.
Addressing a press conference at the Sonitpur DC�s Conference Hall here on Friday, Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Deka, Nodal Officer Parag Mahanta and ADC Prabir Dutta revealed that the special eviction drive will be conducted under the supervision of three special teams led by three magistrates to clear all the illegally-occupied wetlands in order to keep the natural drainage system clear and sustain the natural water flow, thereby saving the historic city from the perennial artificial flood problem.
Outlining a few other Government programmes organised by the district administration, Deka also informed that a Sanitation Mela christened �Swachhata Mela� will be held on March 15 at the Church Field here for generating mass awareness and mobilising public opinion on the urgent need to create and sustain a clean environment. In connection with the programme, exhibition on �Cleanest Village Model�, an awareness programme on hygienic toilet system, presentation of skit and one-act play, discussion on the role of media in this regard etc., will be held. Efforts are on to involve the tea garden people as well.
Considering frequent traffic snarls in the town, the Deputy Commissioner stated that special measures will be adopted by the district administration to streamline the traffic system. �For this purpose, there will be three units, namely Tezpur Police, Tezpur Country Planning Department and Tezpur Municipal Board, who will conduct surveys and submit a report to me within one month,� he said.
Prabir Dutta and Parag Mahanta stated that as part of the Namami Brahmaputra Festival, a five-day programme will be held at Jahazghat, District Library, Church Field and Kala Bhumi by tying up events like exhibition, beach sports, yoga, ethnic food competition, ethnic attire competition, besides a competition on songs composed on the theme of river Brahmaputra, etc.
�River cruise in the Jahazghat area will be a major attraction of the event. Moreover, for the purpose of sightseeing for foreign tourists, two tea estates, namely Naharani and Dhekiajuli tea estates have been selected, wherein organic and green tea will be served to the tourists,� the Deputy Commissioner informed.
