Guwahati Grappling With Artificial Floods Causing Inconvenience To Residents

GUWAHATI: Guwahati is facing severe artificial flooding, with several areas submerged in water, causing significant disruptions to daily life and transportation.

The main road in Panjabari, particularly in front of Karmashree Hiteswar Saikia College, is fully flooded, causing inconvenience to commuters. Similar flooding issues have been reported in Hatigaon and other localities.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts cloudy skies with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms until the next morning, with further rain expected on Monday and Tuesday. Additionally, rain or thunderstorms are anticipated from Friday to Saturday.

The city has received 189.2 mm of rainfall this month, exceeding the normal rainfall of 168.8 mm. The recently completed flyovers on National Highway 27, intended to alleviate traffic congestion, have become a point of contention due to flooding issues near the Boragaon flyover.

Environmental experts point to rapid urbanization without corresponding upgrades to the city's drainage infrastructure as the cause of artificial flooding. They stress the need for a comprehensive urban planning strategy that includes effective water management systems to prevent such occurrences in the future.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had blamed the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM), of worsening the recent flooding in Guwahati, labeling it as "flood jihad."

The Assam CM attributed USTM's activities of cutting down hills and causing deforestation on its campus to raise new buildings, including a medical college, as the reason behind the exacerbation of waterlogging in the city.

The serious accusation comes in the aftermath of heavy downpour that triggered widespread flooding in Guwahati, causing inconvenience to denizens.

CM Sarma alleged that the university's actions have contributed significantly to the waterlogging crisis.

ALSO READ: Flooding, lack of streetlights irk Hatigaon residents in Guwahati city (sentinelassam.com)

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