A pungent smell hits the nose as one strolls through the by lanes of Anil Nagar and Nabin Nagar in Guwahati. The same comes from the uncovered drains with garbage dumped in them. The mask does come to the rescue up to a certain level but not enough.
Previously, it was claimed by the Nabin Sangha that the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) wasn’t doing its duties properly and despite several complaints, there was no resolution on this matter.
Interacting with the shopkeepers and residents
“I am living here for more than 20 years now and it’s very irresponsible of GMC to not respond to our complaints,” said one of the local shopkeepers to G Plus.
“I have been on duty here for more than 5 years but I never saw any steps taken by the government or even the GMC to uplift this place. This place mainly comprises sophisticated residents who don’t even care much,” complained a sub-inspector to G Plus.
“The government is so negligent towards our pleas. I don’t know what and how the problem will be solved,” said Deepak Thakuria, a resident of Anil Nagar.
"We lack basic facilities. The roads are not proper but the biggest problem has been of waste disposal," said another resident.
It could be concluded that the people are unhappy with the GMC because of the Corporation’s non-responsive attitude to their complaints. However, some people offered a mixed reaction regarding the steps taken by GMC.
|
Concentrated Area |
Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar |
|
Ward no |
20 |
|
Population of Ward |
31,722 |
|
Households |
8,075 |
|
Local MLA |
Siddhartha Bhattacharya |
“It would be an injustice to them if I don’t speak about their good deeds and what they have done for this area. They are doing their best,” said Jugal Baishya, an owner of a local restaurant.
GMC assures intervention to G Plus
“We always try our best to solve the problem. We receive tons of complaints and we try to solve them within 24 hours. The maximum complaints that we receive are regarding the drainage system. The drawback I feel is due to the unavailability of labourers. The after-effects of COVID-19 have left a huge impact on everyone including the labourers which have resulted in a reduction in their numbers,” said Alina Begum, Executive Engineer of GMC to G Plus.
In many parts of Guwahati today, there is a great need for properly managed sustainable drainage systems in order to help manage surface water runoff. Neighborhoods keep springing up without proper planning, which also involves planning for drainage and sewerage or waste disposal. Residents regularly dump their waste in gutters, and this clogs the gutters and prevents the flow of water, causing the gutters to overflow. It is common to see flooded streets with litter floating everywhere even after a short rainfall. Such situations create very unsanitary conditions for residents of the neighborhoods and contribute to the degradation of the environment.
“We are working on the small drains in and around the city. We have repaired many drains with the minimal labour force provided. The tenders by the government for the main drains have not been received till now. So, I guess we can start as soon as we get orders from the government. We assure you that we will do our best in solving the problems with strict supervision,” stated the executive engineer.
GMC’s Joint Commissioner also gave a positive response when asked about proper intervention.
Can Guwahati be a smart city?
“People from entire northeast India flock to Guwahati with health issues. The city is not equipped enough to cope up with such a big responsibility. There is a growing need for multipurpose specialty hospitals in Guwahati. There should be awareness among the people so that they can keep up with the pace of being a smart city. As the population size inflates with growing immigration and mobility of people, the demand on drinking water grows by alarming proportions. Rainwater harvesting should be made mandatory. With the country gearing up on a cleaning mission of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Guwahati should take the cue and follow the footsteps,” said a source from the government to G Plus under conditions of confidentiality.
“Globalization is changing the face of our cities. We cannot move forward without our past intact. There are many historical monuments within the city that must be preserved,” added the source.
Being the sole connecting link within the northeast, the city has to bear unimaginable burdens. This has taken a toll on its environment and socio-economic aspects. Every day the city faces an influx of people, goods, and vehicles making them all a part of its huge enduring core. The biggest challenge is to keep up with this fast pace as the city grows exponentially. Guwahati needs a helping hand from its residents as well as the government to transform it into a smart city.
