The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) repaired and constructed 108 city roads and lanes in 2017.
A source in the GMC said, “Around Rs 22.71 crores was invested to repair 108 roads,” adding that the work of many such roads are still ongoing.
According to the details availed from the chief engineer’s office of GMC, repairing work of 79 roads and lanes stand complete whereas the repair work for the rest of the roads and lanes are in progress.
The funds were sanctioned by the urban local body after the ward councillors submitted reports on the roads that needed repair in their respective wards.
The repair works included construction of protection walls in some areas, lane and road improvement, some guard wall constructions, improvement of RCC covered box drains near some lanes, construction of drains, construction of culverts and RCC slabs, construction of steps adjacent to some lanes and construction of underground drains in some areas.
He explained that as soon as he became the councillor in 2013, a request listing around 121 roads and lanes for improvement from his ward was submitted to GMC but very few roads have improved in almost four and a half years.
GMC incurs expenditure of Rs 6.8 crores to clean major river channels
The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) claimed that it spent around Rs 6.8 crores to clean and de-silt the major river channels in the city in 2017.
A GMC source said, “Five major river channels of the city (Bharalu, Bahini, Lakhimijan, Basistha and Mora Bharalu) were cleaned this year,” and added that even masonry guard walls worth Rs 13.78 lakhs were constructed near some river channels.
Rs 1.73 crores was spent to clean and de-silt the Bharalu River this year. Rs 1.08 crores was spent to clean Bahini River, Rs 84.30 lakhs on Lakhimijan River, Rs 1.39 crores on Basistha River and Rs 13.78 lakhs was spent to clean the Mora Bharalu River.
The GMC source said that for this year, 100% cleaning and de-silting works of these rivers have been completed; next year again the rivers will be cleaned if required.
Talking about masonry guard walls, the source said that in Bharalu and Basistha rivers the work has started and some stretches have been covered. Gradually the walls will be constructed for other rivers too.
Rs 1.8 Cr spent in Anil Nagar and Lachit Nagar
According to the details availed from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), Rs 1.8 crores was spent for constructing sump wells at Anil Nagar and Lachit Nagar.
Rs 42.50 lakhs was spent to construct a sump and raised platform at the junction of Anil Nagar main road and Anil Nagar By-lane No 1.
Rs 99.70 lakhs was spent to construct the RCC drain and for improvement of Lane No 1 under Ward No 20.
GMC also constructed the RCC drain, one sump well and a retaining wall at Kanaklata Path, Lachit Nagar. Two sluice gates at Kanaklata Path were also repaired and the budget for all these constructions was Rs 43.59 lakhs.
The local residents said that in spite of these developments the area still reels under urban floods during the monsoon season.
Rs 8.97 Cr spent for flood mitigation in 2017
After identifying the areas which get affected by urban floods during rainy season, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) spent Rs 8.97 crores for flood mitigation works in 2017.
Rs 83.62 lakhs was spent to improve the drainage system from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) pipeline to Lakhmi Jaan under Ward No 29. The work is 50% completed.
Rs 27 lakhs was spent to construct 3 silt chambers at Panjabari Road near Military Cantonment under Ward No 31. The work is 60% completed.
Rs 30 lakhs was spent to construct 7 approach culverts and railings over Juripar Drain. The work is 55% completed.
Rs 15 lakhs was spent to construct cross culvert at Apsara Cinema Hall by-lane with drain.
Similarly, Rs 2.57 crores was used to widen the storm water cover drain at Sree Nagar Road including construction of RCC box cell at GG Road near Lal Ganesh. It is almost complete.
Rs 85 lakhs was used to construct RCC silt trap at Noonmati refinery channel nearby AIDC campus for mitigation of urban flood; 60% of the construction work is completed.
Rs 19.05 lakhs will be invested to construct a roadside drain on the right hand side of GS Road near Dakhin Gaon Road junction point for mitigation of urban flood.
As the major cause of urban floods during monsoon season is blocked drains stopping smooth water flow, Rs 3.63 crores was spent for cleaning and de-silting various drains in the city this year.