GUWAHATI: Assam Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Ashok Singhal informed on April 11 that strong action will be taken against Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) officials who allowed residents to build houses across the Bahini river, blocking the flow of the stream.
Ashok Singhal made the comments while reviewing the Guwahati de-silting work on Tuesday.
The minister emphasised that contractors who fail to perform their tasks will face severe consequences. Singhal further stated that he has heard allegations of GMC officials allowing villagers permission to build houses over the Bahini stream, as per media reports.
"Strong action will be taken against GMC officials who granted permission to build houses over the Bahini," Ashok Singhal stated.
"Many contractors dug the road for the installation of water supply pipes." However, many people did not rebuild the road after digging it. The contractors were in charge of repairing the road. We have stopped paying them, and if the need arises, an FIR will be filed against the contractors," Singhal added, as quoted by media reports.
Under 'Mission Flood Free,' massive de-silting work is underway in Guwahati. Workers from the GMDA have been working feverishly to clear the city's choked rivers and streams in order to minimise urban floods ahead of the monsoon season.