GUWAHATI: Inundated stretches of road because of dilapidated drains is still a reality in the middle of Guwahati city.
Residents of Bishnujyoti Path in Hatigaon have been complaining about black drain water and a foul stench in their front yard for over four years now. The road gets inundated even after brief spells of rain and stays flooded for the next two to three days.
Residents say the road which was newly-constructed and completed in 2016 at the cost of around Rs 2 crore, took only a little over two years to return to its dilapidated state. After several complaints to several authorities in Government departments for over five years, the street and the drains alongside remain in its shabby state.
A local resident and the secretary of Bishnujyoti Path Unnayan Committee Jayanta Barua says that unregulated and unplanned construction of apartments cause drain water from elevated areas to reverse-flow into the narrow road and small drain. He points out that the locality has no exit drain or culvert and no drainage gradient for unidirectional water flow.
“There are several drains that are connected to Bishnujyoti Path and the drain water from Sijubari main road blocks the flow of water from Bishnujyoti path and causes a backflow,” said Jayanta Barua.
The Dispur Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) Executive Engineer, Hiranya Barman told G Plus that the GMC has been de-silting the drainage channels from time to time. When we asked whether the backflow of water from high-level areas during excessive rains will stop after unclogging, we were told that the entire drainage stretch is being unclogged and that it is a recurring process. He also said that the construction activities to improve the drain and the road haven’t started.
Residents complain that the cleaners leave the sewage on the road after desilting to dry for 5-6 days, which causes the sewage to flow back into the drain.