GUWAHATI: After the current spells of monsoon showers which inundated almost every part of Guwahati left the residents questioning the city planning and the authorities.
Sarbodaya Nagar, ward number 52, which lies beneath the Chandmari Flyover is currently in shambles. During monsoon season, the area gets flooded with water, making it a herculean task for locals to traverse.
Speaking to GPlus, Meentu Muchahary, a local resident of Sarbodaya Nagar said, "This has become a regular problem, and whenever it rains, the water level reaches knee-deep level."
Another resident of the area, Bhavna Deka said, "My daughter studies in Srimanta Shankar Academy, Dispur and always has to miss school whenever our area is flooded."
"On September 30, due to the heavy flood, my daughter couldn't come home and she had to stay back at my brother's house in Beltola," she further added.
Another resident lamented that the inhabitants of Sarbodaya Nagar couldn't make it back to their homes that day because of the flooding and, they were forced to seek accommodation in hotels and lodges.
The frequency of floods has become a curse for the locals, as they have experienced it for the seventh time in their area, this year, according to their accounts.
Speaking to GPlus, another resident of Sarbodaya Nagar, Rupak Deka claimed that these recurring floods primarily result from clogged drains incapable of effectively draining the water out. Consequently, when additional water flows in, it tends to combine with the stagnant drain water.
"We have brought this issue to the concerned authorities to increase the level of the road, including our local councillor Geeta Thakuriya, however, she doesn't even bother to respond." Deka further said.
Apparently, the locals asked for a solution, and the councillor sent a faulty pump which according to the locals didn't function properly.
The drainage system in Sarbodaya Nagar is designed to connect with the Bharalu River. Regrettably, rather than flowing in the intended direction toward the river, the water experiences backflow issues.
According to the geographical layout of the city, it suggests that the rainwater is initially directed towards the water bodies and the three rivers which are Bharalu, Bahini and Basistha through an intricate network of drains.
There are 330 drains in Guwahati and ultimately, the accumulated water will find its way to the Brahmaputra, which courses along the city's northern border which was the ideal plan for the city.
According to reports, this year, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) allocated ₹9 crore to clean around 143 drains in the city. However, to properly clean all the drains and tributaries in Guwahati, it's estimated that they would need around ₹40 crore. This investment is crucial to make sure the city's drainage works well and prevents flooding and related problems. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, there haven't been any positive outcomes so far.
When the correspondent asked for a bite from the ward councillor, the councillor was unavailable for comment.