GUWAHATI
Citizens, administration blame each other for floods
TNN | Updated: Jun 16, 2017, 12.07 PM IST
Deputy commissioner M Angamuthu has asked the circle officer and the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) to clear all the drains in that area within June 20. Many settlements were found blocking the natural channels of water, as a result of which a big area along National Highway 37 has experienced massive waterlogging.
“We have witnessed that the blockade of natural water channels is the main reason of waterlogging in that area. If these establishments are not removed, this problem is not going to get over soon. A report submitted by the circle officer also mentioned about the harassment being faced by the locals,” said Angamuthu.
The DC has asked the GMC commissioner and the executive engineer of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) here to clear all natural water channels by removing the illegal establishments. City circle officer Damodar Barman has been asked to adopt necessary steps to remove illegal settlements. Police commissioner Hiren Nath has been requested to maintain law and order during the period.
Tuesday witnessed one of the worst days of flood in recent times, with five individuals losing their lives across the city, either by drowning or by being electrocuted.
With a few spells of rain on Thursday evening as well, the district administration has asked the residents to move carefully. On any kind of flood-related emergency, residents can contact 1077 and 0361-2733052 helpline numbers for assistance from the administration.
The administration and the government agencies have been slammed for not doing their job properly in cleaning up the drains, thus creating an artificial flood. However, the residents too are responsible to some extent.
“The administration is responsible for such kind of situation. But I have not seen any civic sense among the residents. People tend to forget the pain on the next day and throw plastic bottles in drains, which congested the flow of water, among other reasons,” said Dhiraj Sarma, a retired school teacher.
