Congress Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, who in a statement termed it an inhuman move by the government against common people (Shutterstock)
The opposition Congress on Monday termed the decision as an “inhuman step” and said such demolitions should be based on scientific studies.
A government order states that 89 bridges over a river will be demolished in Guwahati, over a distance of about 8 km, to ease the problem of water-logging in one part of the city.
The opposition Congress on Monday termed the decision as an “inhuman step” and said such demolitions should be based on scientific studies.
The order to demolish both public and private bridges was passed unilaterally, citing the “contingent nature” of the task of mitigating urban flooding.
It has been issued by Pallav Gopal Jha, Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup Metropolitan and Chairman, District Management Authority, stating that public interference or obstruction during the execution of demolition will be considered as obstruction of public service and legal action will be initiated as per prevailing enactments. Can and criteria.
Though the directive was issued on Thursday, it was not shared with the media by the officials.
This was made available to the media on Monday by Congress leader of opposition Debabrata Saikia, who in a statement termed it “an inhuman move by the government against the common people”.
The bridges, some of them concrete and others iron structures, houses the State Zoo, SBI Dispur branch and local head office, NABARD office, North Eastern Development Finance (NEDFI) Corporation House, several hospitals and densely populated residential areas.
Jha said in his order that the list of 89 bridges built on the Bahini river has been submitted by the Commissioner of Guwahati Municipal Corporation. These are “blocking” the natural flow of water, causing the problem of water logging at various places.
He has directed the GMC to immediately demolish these structures for smooth flow of rain water during the rainy season so as to provide necessary relief to the people from severe water-logging.
“However, I am of the view that if these structures are not demolished immediately, the desilting work on the banks of the Bahini river will not be effective, causing immense hardship to the residents of that area and the general public,” the order said. Will be.” ,
“The order should have been based on a proper hydro/flood level report on the river,” Saikia said.
The Congress leader claimed that over 80 bridges over the Bahini and Bharalu rivers in Guwahati were demolished in 2008 and the existing bridges were built after necessary permissions and approvals from the departments concerned.
The Assam government recently launched an eviction drive to clear about 400 bighas (over 132 acres) of land from alleged encroachers on the banks of the Silsako Beel (lake) in the city.
Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) chairman Narayan Deka had told PTI that encroachment has resulted in the Silsako Beel turning into a small pothole and one of the main reasons for water-logging in the eastern part of the capital city during monsoon. .
An official said the GMDA has set a target of clearing around 400 bighas, 100 meters on both sides of the lake, as a first step.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)