Eviction drive in Guwahati to reduce floods

GUWAHATI: The Kamrup (Metro) district administration has started eviction drives in several places in and around the city in a bid to reduce the problem of artificial flooding. Through the eviction drives, the administration is attempting to make way for water to get out of the city quickly through water channels.
There has been a eviction drive to clear a rivulet near the National Highway 37 in Jorabat area, involving dismantling of 203 commercial set-ups and other constructions in a stretch covering 5.6 km.
"The eviction drive has been taken up to maximize the water flow through this rivulet. We need to clear the flow up to Byrnihat. We will continue in several places across the city. It is needed to widen the channels so that the water goes out quickly," said deputy commissioner Virendra Mittal.
The eviction drive has been carried out under the supervision of additional deputy commissioners ND Pathk, P Mahanta, PP Bora, R Konwar and circle officer of Sonapur revenue circle Jenifer Yasmin Choudhury. National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has also extended logistic support.
Mittal also reviewed the water logging problem in the area and the feasibility of draining out the water to Silsako Beel with local officials.
Thereafter, Mittal went to inspect Jorabat and Byrnihat, where the district administration has carried out eviction operations to clear a drain near the national highway. He said with the help of a NGO he will initiate a cleanliness drive in Byrnihat area shortly.
Jorabat has seen some of the worst artificial floods recently. Locals say the problem has increased drastically in the last couple of years. After it rains, water from the hills in Meghalaya come down to the area, they contend.
"We have also called a meeting to discuss the problem in details on September 21. We will have to find out solutions and implement them," said Mittal.