WATER WOES
GUWAHATI: Residents of Guwahati, while congratulating the new chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, urged him to take initiative to solve the problem of flash floods in the city, which is worsening year after year.
The monsoon has already begun in the state. The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has not yet taken any steps to deal with the flash floods, which is a perennial problem. No dredging and de-siltation of the channels and other drains have been started by the civic body yet in the city.
Being optimistic about the new CM, Soneswar Kalita, a resident of Geetanagar area in the 53 No Gauhati East constituency, said, “During monsoon, people of the city have to face various problems due to flash floods. We also urged the political parties to take up the issue before the recently concluded elections. Now, we urge the new government under the leadership of capable CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to take the matter seriously and find out strategy to sort the issue.” Kalit
In the last 20 years, rapid urbanisation has disturbed drainage channels and wetlands in the city, which has compounded the problem of urban flooding
GUWAHATI: The problem of urban flooding will worsen so much in the future that people in certain areas of the city will be forced to leave. This doomsday warning has come from experts who have been for years studying the problem of rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the city.
In the last 20 years, rapid urbanisation has disturbed drainage channels and wetlands in the city, which has compounded the problem of urban flooding. To solve this, Abani Kumar Bhagawati, professor of geography at Gauhati University, sees no other alternative other than to revive the wetlands and drainage channels.
A flash flood-hit area in Guwahati’s Chandmari on Sunday
GUWAHATI: Flash floods in most parts of the city on Sunday night irked voters in the four constituencies here, which go to the polls on Tuesday in the third and final phase. The advent of the rainy season is dreaded here because of the frequent occurrence of flash floods, which leave large areas inundated disrupting regular activities.
Most residents blamed the civic body, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), for failing to tackle the flash floods that have been plaguing the city for decades.
“The GMC did not undertake any de-siltation or dredging of channels and drains this year and the rains have arrived. Does it mean the situation will worsen this year?” asked Soneswar Kalita, a resident of Geetanagar area in the 53 No Gauhati East Constituency.
There are five major channels that drain out the rain water, Bharalu, Mora Bharalu, Basistha, Bahini and Lakhimijan, and these need immediate cleaning to check flash floods
GUWAHATI: The monsoon is about to arrive in the state and the Gauhati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has not yet taken any steps to prevent the occurrence of flash floods, a perennial problem in the city. Channels and drains need to be de-silted well before the rains set in.
There are five major channels that drain out the rain water, Bharalu, Mora Bharalu, Basistha, Bahini and Lakhimijan, and these need immediate cleaning to check flash floods.