Guwahati Drainage, Sewerage and Solid waste management thread

Guwahati: Rs. 750-Crore Project to Revamp Drainage System


Guwahati: In the wake of the worst-ever flood in the city, the administration is working on a Rs. 750-crore project to revamp the drainage system of the state capital.

"The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) is working on a scientific drainage plan for the city and a detailed project report for the Rs. 750 crore plan has been under discussion. By December, we will be able to take a decision on this," Kamrup Metro Deputy Commissioner (in-charge) M Angamuthu told reporters in Guwahati.

The authority is in the process of identifying low lying areas to start a scientific survey to plan a modern drainage system, he said.

On the eviction drive, which continued for the eighth day, Mr Angamuthu said, "We have completed around 80 per cent of the work and it will continue for a few more days."

The primary objective of the authorities was to clear the water routes and wetlands, he said adding eviction was being carried out on the banks of Bharalu, Basistha and Bahini rivers along with Silsako and Deepor wetlands.

On allegation that "rich" people have not been touched in this drive, Mr Angamuthu said, "We have identified 45 big constructions in these government lands. We have asked the authorities concerned to verify these and accordingly we will take action against them."

He said even government establishments would not be spared if laws have been violated.

Asked about collusion between agencies in giving permission to these structures, Mr Angamuthu said, "During eviction, many people presented a holding certificate from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation. We are finding out the period when these were issued. We want to find out this nexus to fix it."

"After the eviction is completed, we will start dredging and then fencing of these water bodies. We will do everything to bring our effort to a logical conclusion," Mr Angamuthu said.

The government would also take a "strong decision" regarding banning polythene in the city from next month, he added.

Guwahati eviction continues for fifth day; 396 houses pulled down

Guwahati: The administration on Friday pulled down 72 houses in the state capital during an ongoing eviction drive in the city to clear waterways and wetlands.



During the exercise, which entered its fifth day today after the worst ever flood in the city last week, the Kamrup Metro district administration has so far demolished 396 houses and cleared over 50 bighas of government land.

According to an official release, the authorities today carried out its demolition exercise in Silsako lake and on the banks of Bharalu river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra flowing through the city. Out of the 72 houses pulled down during the day, 46 were in Silsako, while the rest were on the banks of Bharalu.

Regarding the displaced people, the authority has already ruled out any relief or temporary accommodation saying it would not be done as they were encroachers.

Yesterday, a woman Chandra Devi died of heart attack during demolition of her house, which was illegally constructed in Serab Bhati area on the banks of Bharalu.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the government would look after the three children of Chandra and announced Rs 1 lakh from his relief fund, besides Rs 30,000 from the Kamrup Metro district administration as financial assistance to the children.

Many of the residents whose houses have been brought down, alleged the administration was carrying out the eviction drive in a partisan manner as "it is not touching the rich."

Kamrup Metro district administration was leading the eviction drive along with Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority and Guwahati Municipal Corporation.

A large number of police personnel were also present at all places to avoid any resistance and untoward incidents.

After the banks of Silsako and Bharalu rivers, the authority would start evicting illegal occupiers on the banks of Basistha river and on the hills surrounding the city.

The authority has also identified 366 places on 19 hillocks surrounding the city as landslide-prone and has asked the people living there to shift to safer locations.

During the flood and landslide last week in Guwahati, 11 persons died and heavy rains had affected many areas, including Anil Nagar, Tarun Nagar, Dispur, Rajgarh, Zoo Road, G S Road, GNB Road and Bhagagarh.


http://zeenews.india.com/news/assam...-fifth-day-396-houses-pulled-down_945134.html

Plea & caning for eviction


Guwahati, July 7: An appeal for cooperation by the Kamrup (metro) district administration and lathicharge by police marked the eighth day of eviction here today.

The Kamrup (metro) administration appealed to citizens to cooperate with its drive to clear encroachments on waterbodies, iterating that the move was a “water channel clearing process” that would be brought to its “logical conclusion”.

Underlining a slew of measures to rid the city of the perennial problem of floods, deputy commissioner in-charge of Kamrup (metro) M. Angamuthu told reporters here that the ongoing eviction drive was nearing completion but the process to clear all encroachments in Guwahati would be continuous.

“We intend to clear all the five primary water channels and then move over to the secondary ones. After clearing the channels, we will start dredging work to make them deep and also fence them with walls. Eighty per cent of the ongoing eviction drive is over and the remaining 20 per cent will be completed within the next four to five days,” Angamuthu said.

The deputy commissioner said the eviction would be indiscriminate.

“We have identified 45 so-called big buildings around the waterbodies and are currently verifying land documents. Action will be taken against anyone at fault. The drive will be indiscriminate and brought to its logical conclusion.”

He said the administration had started verifying the GMC holding certificates shown by the people residing in and around the waterbodies. “None can be given holding certificates on government land. We will find out in which period these certificates were issued,” he said.

At Borbari, in and around Silsako Beel, the police resorted to teargas shell firing and caning to disperse a group of residents after a section prevented officials from carrying out the drive. About 10 to 15 residents and four police personnel were reportedly injured. Police sources said the incident took place around 11am.

“We had to resort to lathicharge and fire teargas shells when a mob of around 150 to 200 persons prevented the use of Watermaster (a multipurpose dredger) in the drive. A section from the mob threw stones at us,” a police official told this correspondent.

In the second phase, the administration intends to study the drainage pattern of all low-lying/flood-prone areas and undertake a scientific survey before clearing the secondary channels.

“We intend to carry out an area-specific drainage pattern study before clearing all low-lying areas. Aspects like linking drainage of areas like Anil Nagar to the Bharalu would be considered,” he said.

Apart from introducing a weather bulletin on rainfall, the administration will introduce a siren system to alert residents in the low-lying areas about rising water level, he added.

The administration has ordered the use of 17 additional water pumps to clear water during floods in the city.

“We have ordered 10 water pumps from Guwahati Municipal Corporation, six from the water resources department and one from the irrigation department,” he said.

The deputy commissioner warned all polythene users and dealers of “strong action” in a month’s time. “By August, we will start a systematic ban on the use of polythene. So be prepared,” he said.

Angamuthu said the administration would involve the municipal corporation for strengthening the resident welfare associations. “Ideally, there should be one development committee (unnayan samiti) for each bylane,” he added.

He also said action would be taken against any individual or firm piling up construction material on roads. “We will seize any such material piled up on roads and file a case against the offender,” he said.

So far, 81 bighas have been cleared at Silsako Beel. Today, 14 pucca houses, 12 mud houses and 16 boundary walls were cleared.

The administration will send an updated detailed report of a Rs 750-crore project to revamp the metropolitan area’s drainage system to the Centre by December. “We have employed the services of a firm to prepare the updated report and will send the modified data to the Centre by December,” Angamuthu said. The detailed project report was prepared in 2010-11.

The Jorhat district administration will carry out an eviction drive along the Tarajan stream in the town from tomorrow. A senior official of the administration said since the past two days notices were being served on people who had encroached upon land and illegally constructed houses by the streams and the Bhogdoi river. He said the eviction would be carried out in phases.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140708/jsp/frontpage/story_18591191.jsp#.U7uEX6iSyMY

Eviction for clearing path for water: Admin

Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, July 7 – The Kamrup Metro district administration today said the ongoing eviction drive in the vicinity of water bodies at various places across the city is only intended to clear path for flow of floodwater away from inhabited locations and added that projects would be taken up for area-specific study of drainage patterns in the city as well as for installation of sirens to warn people in low-lying localities in case of rising water levels.
Dr M Angamuthu, Deputy Commissioner (in-charge) of Kamrup Metro, told reporters here that a survey of the drainage system would be carried out to ensure safe passage of water.

Sirens are to be placed in the vicinity of low-lying and flood-prone localities and they would be sounded in case of a rise in the floodwater level.

Angamuthu also said that a modified DPR would be sent to the Centre for a drainage project under the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), which was first mooted in 2010-11.

Directions have also been issued to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation and the Water Resources Department to ensure availability of water pumps at low-lying areas to pump out floodwater, he added.

The official said that the ongoing eviction drive is intended only to allow free flow of flood water to natural water bodies and for clearing up of blockages and encroachments, which are hindering the process.

He said the common people have no need to feel apprehensive and the eviction drive along Silsako Beel and the Bharalu river is almost in its last phase and work is also in progress along the Basistha and Bahini rivers.

Regarding complaints about allotment of myadi pattas to families along the water bodies, he said enquiry has been ordered in such cases and all details sought from the GMC and the GMDA.

Angamuthu said that steps have been initiated to ban use of plastic in a systematic manner.

The district administration has also opened temporary shelters for people who have been targeted during the eviction drive. Shelters have been opened at the Panchayati Bibah Bhavan at HB Road and at SJ Dharmashala Trust, Fancy Bazar.

Meanwhile, today’s drive was marred by a scuffle between police and the affected people at Borbari. Locals protested against the eviction drive claiming that they possessed myadi pattas. However, the drive continued despite the protest, after the protestors were dispersed following a mild lathicharge.

Today, 14 pucca houses, 12 kuccha houses and 16 boundary walls were demolished along the Silsako Beel and 12 bighas of land cleared. Along the Bharalu river, 14 semi-pucca houses and six walls were demolished and three bighas of land were cleared.

Along the Basistha river, 15 pucca houses, 50 kuccha houses and 20 boundary walls were demolished during today’s drive.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul0814/city053

District administration demolishing a part of Mukesh Hyundai @ Ganeshguri

Eviction drive in Guwahati enters 10th day. To continue few more days

^^ Wonderfull news....

Its is so evident from the picture that amount of encroachment by Mukesh Hyundai premise. I hope they demolish the boundary wall and widen the road by another 4-5 feet.

But what about that Pujari of Hanuman Temple on the other side of Mukesh Hyundai. He has also encroached upon a piece of land. I think even his hut or house also needs to be demolished.

It is time to act tough and govt. is going in the right direction.

According to local news channel CM has ordered to demolish walls erected by MLAs like ajanta neog, jayanta malla baruah and badaruddin ajmal.

no one should be spared.

and govt. should make sure these lands are not encroached five years down the line.

Water channels will be cleared of encroachers: CM

Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, July 11 – Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today asserted that the ongoing eviction drive to clear the city’s natural drainage channels such as Bharalu, Bahini and Bondajan, would be taken to its logical conclusion in an unbiased manner.
“There is no question of acting leniently on influential people illegally occupying land near the channels. The channels would later be dredged and the reclaimed area fenced to prevent any bid at encroachment,” Gogoi said at a press conference.

To a question how such a large number of people could settle down on the protected area for so long without tacit support of government authorities, especially the GMC and GMDA, Gogoi said a probe would be instituted to get to the roots of any illegalities on the part of officials.

To another question whether the Ginger Hotel located in the middle of the Silsako wetland would be spared, Gogoi said the law would take its own course. “If it is located on encroached land, it would be demolished,” he said.

Eviction drive: Meanwhile, after undertaking an eviction drive for 12 consecutive days in and around major water bodies in the city, the Kamrup Metro administration will now expand the drive to areas in the vicinity of the National Highway 37.

A senior district administration official told The Assam Tribune today that starting from tomorrow, a massive anti-encroachment drive will be undertaken on National Highway 37 from Khanapara to Jalukbari.

“Artificial floods have affected communication and disrupted transportation on the NH-37 in the past during rainy season. We want to clear up all blockages and allow free flow of rainwater to the streams, drains and rivulets in the vicinity of the NH 37 and all illegal encroachments will be cleared during the drive,” the official said.

So far, the drive had been limited to water bodies like Bharalu, Bahini, Basistha rivers and the Silsako Beel.

“While clearing up the encroachments from the water-bodies is essential to allow unhindered outlets for the rainwater, the NH 37 is a strategic artery and cannot be allowed to become clogged time and again,” the official said.

Meanwhile, the district administration, along with officials from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and the Pollution Control Board, conducted a major anti-polythene drive in Fancy Bazar locality of the city and sealed two godowns, besides seizing a huge amount of polythene of below 40 microns which is a banned item.

In the meantime, the eviction drive around the water-bodies continued for the 12th consecutive day and a huge number of illegal structures were demolished today.

Along the Mora Bharalu, 200 metres of concrete wall spread over three kathas of land were cleared, while 11 pucca houses, two kuccha houses and nine boundary walls were demolished in Bormotoria locality near Bahini river leading to clearing of three bighas of land.

Along the Basistha river, ten kuccha houses and five pucca houses were evicted and two bighas of encroached land were cleared during today’s drive.


http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul1214/at052

Axe falls on illegal buildings on NH37 - 700m of clogged drains cleared


Guwahati, July 12: The eviction drive by the Kamrup (metro) district administration entered the 13th day today, with the focus shifting to illegal constructions along National Highway 13 from Jalukbari to Khanapara.

The eviction squad of the district administration pulled down 51 shops, three boundary walls and three temples illegally constructed along the highway. It also used excavators to clear about 700metres of drains between Basistha Chariali and Koinadhora.

Sources in the administration told The Telegraph today that the drive would be stepped up from tomorrow with additional machinery. “The public works department of the National Highway division has been asked to increase the number of machinery to clear illegal structures along the NH37 from Jalukbari to Khanapara as early as possible,” a source said.

The administration today started dredging the Bharalu river to clear the debris. Over 430 houses (both concrete and kuccha), constructed along the river, have been demolished.

The eviction drive along the Bharalu and the Bahini rivers and Silsako Beel was launched on June 30 after massive flash floods hit Guwahati. Nine people died in the flash floods and landslides.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi had yesterday announced that the drive would continue till all illegal constructions obstructing the wetlands were cleared.

Gogoi had made it clear that all illegal buildings, irrespective of whether they belonged to influential or poor persons, would be pulled down.

Eleven concrete and two kuccha houses were demolished while eight boundary walls were pulled down during a similar drive at Bormotoria area under Dispur revenue circle today. Similarly, a boundary wall and two Assam-type houses were pulled down near Ganeshguri.

The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) has alleged that the administration was only demolishing the poor people’s houses and was soft towards business groups and institutions.

They said the Ginger hotel, Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development, Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, among others, should also be demolished.

The district administration said they were scrutinising the documents of such establishments to find out if they were constructed in violation of norms.

The administration, however, demolished a two-storeyed building belonging to a business group, making it clear that no illegal construction would be spared.

The KMSS also alleged that the five-star hotel Radisson Blue, being constructed close to Deepor Beel, had violated norms. The administration, however, said it was not being built on the notified area of the waterbody.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140713/jsp/northeast/story_18608398.jsp#.U8JVsaiSyMY

Eviction drive on along NH 37

Assam Tribune

GUWAHATI, July 13 – The anti-encroachment drive undertaken by the Kamrup Metro district administration to clear blockages hindering the flow of rainwater to major water bodies in the city completed a fortnight today with the authorities clearing a number of illegal structures at National Highway 37 and other places.

Senior district administration officials told The Assam Tribune that over 3,500 metre length of drains was cleared along the NH 37 near the city. “Besides, we have also demolished 17 shops along the boundary of the ISBT. All of them had been set up illegally,” an official said.

Besides, a drive was also carried out from Tripura Road to Nidhi Bhavan along the highway. A total of 25 shops, two concrete houses, five boundary walls and many other bamboo walls were cleared in the drive.

The district administration has since yesterday expanded the drive to NH 37 and plans are afoot to clear encroachments from Khanapara to Jalukbari.

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Admin begins revenue survey of water-bodies

Assam Tribune

GUWAHATI, July 21 – The Kamrup Metro district administration today started revenue survey of major water-bodies in the city – Borsola, Sarusola, Bondajan and Deepor Beel – as well as of low-lying and flood-prone localities including Lachit Nagar, Rajgarh, Tarun Nagar, Nabin Nagar and Pub-Sarania.
Officials said the survey is intended to identify encroachments at such locations so that the problem can been tackled in a better manner.

Meanwhile, Kamrup Metro Additional DC Rajib Kumar Baruah has been asked to study and identify ways to ensure proper flow of rain-water out of Anil Nagar and other such localities. He will consult with locals, civic organizations and other concerned stakeholders.

Dr M Angamuthu, Kamrup Metro DC (in-charge) has directed that pump sets be kept ready on 24-hour standby to deal with any contingency.

Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) staff conducted inspections at Fancy Bazar and Paltan Bazar localities today and seized a huge quantity of illegal plastic bags of below 40 microns.

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Demand for eviction drive along NH-31

Assam Tribune

BAIHATA CHARIALI, July 22 – The people of North Kamrup area have welcomed the eviction drive in Guwahati city and demanded its extension to the outskirts of the city. The people of North Kamrup area, including activists of the North Kamrup Agriculture Land Preservation Committee and other organisations, have lauded the steps taken by the Kamrup district authority against the encroachers in the city. On the same lines, they have demanded of the district authority and the State-government to continue the eviction drive on either side of the National Highway-31.

Members of the North Kamrup Agriculture Land Preservation Committee alleged that a number of plots of land under the North Guwahati and Kamalpur Revenue Circle Offices have been encroached on by non-Assamese traders in the name of industrialisation in the State, which is totally illegal. They said that in North Guwahati, Gauripur, Changsari, Amingaon, Sindurighopa, Pacharia Baihata and Kamalpur, a number of so-called industries have been established which are only meant to earn profits for corporate groups and are not in the interest of the public. This has resulted in the shrinkage of agricultural land and created artificial floods, waterlogging and other problems to farmers.

In a meeting of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) held recently at Kolazol, Akhil Gogoi, KMSS president, alleged that a number of plots of government land have been encroached on by some industrialists on either side of the National Highway-31 by “managing” some corrupt officers. Some of these industries have damaged agricultural land and disturbed the normal water flow into rivers and pits. On the other hand, some industrialists have blocked the waterways and small channels by constructing big walls and other infrastructural structures that has also created problems to farmers.

In Kolazol near Baihata, the embankment along the Kolazol river has been encroached on by industrialists and at Baihata, a paper mill had encroached on government land. The district administration carried out an eviction drive recently, but it did not carry out any eviction operation in Kolazol despite repeated demands by the public.

Similarly, the people of the greater area have demanded an eviction drive at Changsari and Sindurighopa where a number of big plots of land, which are generally low-lying, have been filled up with red soil, blocking water outlets.

The public here have demanded the district authority to carry out its eviction drive without bias and extend it to the outskirts of the city and also to stop the encroachment and cutting of hills in the North Kamrup area.

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Pune model may be emulated by GMC

Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, July 23 – Pune model for solid waste management may be emulated by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), said Area Sabha Member of the GMC Ward No 11 (B) Satyen Doloi.
This Maharashtra city generates between 1300 to 1400 Metric tones of solid wastes everyday. It has a public-private-partnership (PPP) approach towards managing this huge amount of solid waste.

Talking to this newspaper, Doloi said the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has an Independent Commissioner for Solid Waste Management. It also has a separate budget allocation for solid waste management.

Doloi recently visited Pune to study, on his own, the solid waste management system of this Maharashtra city, which has earned the reputation of one of the cleanest cities of the country. Today Pune is a container-free city

The PMC engages NGOs for collecting the solid wastes from every household in the early morning hours and the wastes thus collected are deposited in the zonal yards of the PMC everyday by 10 am.

Commercial establishments in Pune are required to deposit their solid wastes within their campuses and PMC workers collect those wastes early in the morning everyday.

Pune hotels are to deposit their wastes in their own dustbins and the PMC workers collect these wastes to take them to the PMC biogas plants. The PMC has 14 such plants to generate power for keeping a part of the Pune street lights on.

The solid waste collection system of Pune consists of 90 tipper trucks, 23 hotel trucks, 1963 rag pickers, 936 containers and 412 dumper placers across the city. While the tipper trucks collect 95000 kg waste everyday, the hotel trucks collect 124370 kg waste per day and the rag pickers collect waste in a door-to-door mode from 2,47 lakh properties.

The solid wastes from the yards are taken to the main plant of the PMC where bio-degradable and non-bio-degradable wastes are segregated. Then the waste plastic materials are sent to the recycling plants owned by the private parties and this also provides an income to the PMC.

The rest of the wastes is used to produce two types of fertilizer – one being vermi-compost and this also provides an income and thus the Pune people are also getting the benefit of organic fertilizer.

Solid wastes are also used in Pune to produce solid fuels required in brick kilns to replace coal. Each of the above projects is owned by the PMC.

The PMC collects tax for solid waste management from the households, through the NGOs, at varied rates depending on the storey on which the household is located and this tax starts at Rs 10 per month. The upper limit of this tax is Rs 30 per month.

Awareness among Pune residents about the importance of keeping their city clean is such that they regard it their duty to keep their city clean.

The GMC, or, for that matter the Assam Government, should emulate the ideals of PMC in this respect and ensure eradication of all sorts of corruption in this area. Or else, Guwahati will remain a dirty city.

Keeping Guwahati clean is a matter of prestige for the Guwahatians. There should be no compromise in this area, said the Area Sabha Member of GMC Ward No 11 (B).

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2414/city053

Rs 12.20 cr allotted for Bharalu beautification

GUWAHATI, July 25 – As the first ever sustained drive of clearing the water channels of Guwahati city free from encroachment is nearing completion, the entire stretch of Bharalu rivulet awaits a major facelift with permanent measures to check re-encroachment.
The Guwahati Municipal Corporation, which has been entrusted with the work to beautify the banks of Bharalu, has chalked out an eco-friendly solar energy-based plan of beautifying several stretches of the Bharalu from GS Road to Bharalumukh. If all goes as planned, the first phase of the drive would see 1.7 kilometres stretch with small parks, jogging tracks and modular toilets.

GMC chief engineer MMIM Borah told The Assam Tribune that the project worth Rs 15 crore would use solar power instead of grid power for lighting etc., and is scheduled to complete within 18 months. The first phase beautification would be done alongside the ASEB Road from GS Road up to Rup Nagar Mazar Swarif.

“Rs 12.20 crore has been allotted for the beautification drive. Under the project, the power transmission line along the Bharalu River would be shifted to other side. The entire stretch under the project would be covered with tall barricades so that garbage could not be thrown into the water channel,” he said.

The entire project would cover five kilometres stretch on both sides of Bharalu from GS Road to Bharalumukh.

Briefing media persons on the ongoing eviction drive in Bharalu, ADC Dhrubajyoti Das said that along with clearing encroachment, the work of dredging and widening the rivulets is also going on simultaneously.

“Removing the bottlenecks, the width of Bharalu has been increased to 18 to 20 metres. Apart from barricading, several patches would be developed in a manner to make the river accessible for the machines to carry out annual cleaning exercise. The purpose of this entire drive is to ensure free flow of water throughout the year and check re-encroachments,” said Das.

Regarding the problem in removing the putta land holders, from the water channels, he said that the district administration has started a revenue census, which would again verify the land related documents. “Nearly 90 per cent of the major encroachments have been removed and remaining 10 per cent would be cleared after verifying the documents,” he added.

Meanwhile, eviction drive continued today on the major water channels of the city. Total 37 concrete slabs were removed from an NBCC drain from Nepali Basti to Gopal Bazar areas.

Visiting different stretches of the Bahini River today, Kamrup Metro DC in charge M Angamuthu did the inspection of dredging and widening work of BAhini. He instructed the Water Resource Department to construct silt trap and expedite the cleaning and dredging process of the rivulet. He visited Seuji Path, Hengrabari bridge point, PIBCO point, Patkai Path and Chilarai path and instructed the departments and agencies concerned to take steps for ensuring smooth flow of water in Bahini.


http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2614/city050

WRD asked to construct silt taps on Bahini

GUWAHATI, July 27 – The Kamrup Metro district administration has directed the Water Resources department to construct silt taps at various spots on the Bahini river, besides intensifying dredging and clearing of the water-body.
This decision came after Deputy Commissioner (in-charge) of Kamrup Metro Dr M Angamuthu conducted an inspection of various locations along the Bahini.

Angamuthu said that the Water Resources department has also been instructed to get in touch with the concerned departments to ensure relocation of the water supply and sewerage pipe at Hengrabari point where they are creating obstacles in the path of free flow of rain-water.

The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has also been aked to properly level the nearby road and to contact Housefed for removal of a transformer at the PIBCO point. Instruction was also issued to remove the boundary wall at that place.


http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2814/city054

District admin asks GMC to clear drains

GUWAHATI, Aug 1 – The Kamrup Metro district administration has directed the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) to undertake a massive drain clearing exercise from Christian Basti to Bharalu River stretch.
Kamrup Metro Deputy Commissioner Dr Angamuthu told The Assam Tribune today that the civic body has been tasked to undertake the work on a war footing.

“Today I visited the Bhangagarh Chariali area and found that the drains there are congested and get frequently inundated during rains. The drainage system is blocked at many places. The administration will deal with the issue on a priority basis and so the GMC have been directed to clean up the entire drainage system from Christian Basti to Bharalu,“ he said.

Dr Angamuthu said that from next week, more areas would be included in the exercise.

“We are also continuing the eviction and clearing drive at Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar and other nearby localities,” he said.

The anti-encroachment drive in the city has completed one month with the Kamrup Metro district administration continuing the exercise at selected locations today.

Eviction was carried out at bye-lane number 2 and 3 at Anil Nagar. A total of 12 concrete slabs were demolished during the drive to clear obstruction to the outflow of rainwater.

At the National Highway 37, the newly formed mobile squad also undertook a drive and collected penalty of over Rs 8,300 from vehicles for unauthorized parking. Three heavy vehicles were detained at various places between Khanapara and Jalukbari during the drive.


http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=aug0214/city051

Flash flood problem to be solved in 2 yrs: Govt

GUWAHATI, Aug 5 – The State Government is hopeful of solving the flash flood problem of Guwahati within the next two years. The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has been authorised to implement the schemes, said Guwahati Development Department (GDD) Minister Ajanta Neog in the State Assembly today. :cheers:

Stating that the State Government has accepted the report of Prof Arup Sarma of the IIT Guwahati on the issue, the Minister, who was replying to a debate on a private member’s resolution moved by AGP’s Phani Bhusan Choudhury and Keshav Mahanta, further said that the Government is going to take steps to solve the problem in three phases.

In the first phase, steps would be taken to maintain the ecological balance in the city’s hill areas. In the second phase, the departments concerned would work to channelise the stormwater run-off coming from the city hills. In the third phase work to restore the natural drainage system as also to restore the original capacities of the rivulets, wetlands etc., would be taken up, Neog said.

She told the House that the issue of solving the flash flood problem of the city has been taken up by the State Government as a challenge. She also laid much emphasis on laying drains to meet the flash flood problem.

She urged the Guwahatians to extend their cooperation to the State Government in solving the problem and suggested that the private member’s resolution had become redundant under such a situation.

Moving the resolution, Phani Bhusan Choudhury underscored the need to adopt scientific steps to solve the problem. He referred to the report of the one-man committee comprising Prof N K Choudhury constituted by the State Government in 2003 and the report of Prof Arup Sarma of the IIT Guwahati in this respect.

The recommendations of the Prof NK Choudhury Committee are yet to be implemented. The Committee recommended restoration of the water carrying or bearing capacities of the Bharalu, the Deepor Beel and other city wetlands.

Prof Sarma studied the problem with financial support from the Central Government in 2005. But the GMDA, the State Water Resources Department and the State Forest Department refused to receive the report. Finally, Prof Sarma submitted the report to the Soil Conservation Department.

The report suggested engagement of the Forest Department, GMDA, Public Works Department etc., to solve the problem. There should be an agency to implement the measures being formulated for the purpose, it said.

Prof Sarma also prepared a digital model of the city’s stormwater flow regime nine years back. But the State Government has now engaged the Tahal Group to prepare such a model, Choudhury said, arguing for a time-bound scientific scheme to solve the problem.

Keshav Mahanta called for steps to rehabilitate those genuine landless people who were evicted during the ongoing drives to free the city water bodies from encroachment.

Jatin Mali (Independent) also took part in the debate. Following the Minister’s reply, the resolution was withdrawn.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=aug0614/city050

Steps taken so far against floods inadequate

Assam Tribune

GUWAHATI, Aug 21 – The havoc wreaked on the streets of Guwahati by rain on Wednesday, once again highlighted the fact that a lot still remains to be done to address the root cause of waterlogging in the city.
As the rest of Guwahati struggled with filth and slippery roads today, several streets and bye-lanes still remained submerged in ankle to knee-deep water, which has become the fate of Guwahatians during the monsoons.

As water pumps installed to flush out water in the worst-hit areas of the city were pressed into action immediately after the rains stopped, it did little to minimise the woes of the people, due to their inadequate capacity and their mishandling at several places of the city.

Anil Nagar and Nabin Nagar, two localities which have always been the worst hit during flash floods, were still submerged in water on Thursday. With schools, colleges and offices remaining closed due to the Assam bandh, most of the residents of these places chose not to come out to brave the ankle to knee-deep water at patches.

“We postponed our daily errands today as it was impossible to take out our two-wheelers or four-wheelers on the streets. Rickshaw-pullers also triple their fares. These apart, it is not convenient to go out as we are not sure which route to take,” said Chinmoy Choudhury, a resident of Nabin Nagar area.

The sudden rain that caught the people unawares yesterday, damaged several vehicles and kept the commuters stranded on roads for several hours.

“The waterlogging problem continues to worsen in the city despite measures taken and funds spent in the name of this problem. This only underlines that authorities are still beating around the bush without addressing the root cause,” said Dhiresh Deka, an advocate.

Several residents of Guwahati expressed their anger on the ‘futile exercise’ of clearing the drains and launching eviction drives that failed to minimise the woes of the citizens.

Defending the government action, Executive Engineer of the State Water Resource Department DK Roy, said that due to clearing of water channels, the water receded faster from many areas of the city. “More results would be visible once the natural flow of water is restored through the major channels. A total of 15 pumps are flushing out water from the affected localities and Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar and Rajgarh will be de-waterlogged shortly,” he said.

The residents of four bye-lanes of Rajgarh, however, faced waterlogging for the entire day today. Strangely enough, the water pumped out from Rajgarh was being released on the adjacent Pub Sarania Road, another badly affected street of the area.

“Without finding a proper water exit point, water is being pumped out on Pub Sarania Road from Rajgarh bye-lanes, where most of the drains are blocked or dead. Such strange acts of the administration defy any logic,” a resident of Pub Sarania complained

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