GUWAHATI: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has demanded a white paper on how ₹802 crore sanctioned for the Smart City project was utilised while criticising the state government and municipal authorities for their inadequate response to the flood in the city on August 5.
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The Opposition party also called for the removal of state Housing and Urban Affairs minister Ashok Singhal for his failure to address the issue of floods besides calling for compensation for individuals whose vehicles and properties were damaged during the flood.
Addressing the press, Congress leaders, including Mahila Congress President Meera Borthakur and Congress Media President Bedabrata Bora, condemned the Assam Chief Minister and his council of ministers for failing to take meaningful action during the floods. They alleged that while the city was inundated, the ministers were preoccupied with party reviews and did not make any effective rescue arrangements.
Bora questioned the effectiveness of the ₹802 crore spent under the Smart City initiative, which was launched in 2016 by the Prime Minister. He highlighted various expenditures, including ₹327.30 crore on beautifying the Brahmaputra banks, ₹260.77 crore for purchasing electric buses, and ₹78.44 crore on traffic management systems, among others. Bora demanded a detailed white paper on how this money was utilised across 14 projects, citing ongoing issues in Guwahati despite the substantial investments.
Borthakur also accused Singhal of violating building regulations. She claimed that Singhal's ProTech Group constructed a 17-storey building in Tarun Nagar, Guwahati, in a restricted area, and criticised the Chief Minister for assigning important development responsibilities to business interests.
Further, Borthakur criticised the government's handling of flood management, alleging that Singhal lacked the expertise necessary for Guwahati’s development. She pointed to poor coordination among departments and neglected maintenance of drainage systems, which exacerbated the flooding. Borthakur suggested that experts and engineers, along with modern technology such as drones, should be employed for effective flood control.
The Congress leaders accused the BJP government of failing to deliver on its promises of a flood-free Guwahati and reliable drinking water services. They urged the Chief Minister to show respect to the people of Guwahati by removing Singhal from his position.