Assam: GMC Destroys Private Properties Restricting Flow of Bahini River

GUWAHATI: On Tuesday, the GMC destroyed buildings and private barriers that had been constructed by reportedly intruding on the city's Bahini River.

GMC had earlier announced that measures will be taken to restore the river's ability to convey water in advance of the rainy season. According to GMC Joint Commissioner Mriganka Choudhury, the job of demolishing 26 bridges has been accelerated in order to meet the deadline of March 31.

On Tuesday, multiple unauthorised buildings were destroyed in the Beltola region after two bridges made of concrete and iron were destroyed close to the capital, Dispur.

"The demolition drive was successfully completed, and we encountered no public opposition. If we want to protect the citizens of the city from manufactured floods, Bahini's depth and width must be returned to their former dimensions”, Choudhury added.

He claimed that the river in the Rukminigaon neighbourhood close to the Guwahati-Shillong Road had been significantly encroached upon. The 26 bridges may not all be demolished, according to enforcement officers, but their width will be decreased for desiltation.

Up to 26 bridges in Guwahati that cross the Bahini River will be destroyed. Ashok Singhal, the minister for housing and urban affairs in Assam, informed the public of this recently.

According to Singhal, the bridges that are severely impeding the river and are a major contributor to the city's artificial flooding will be destroyed. He said the bridges would be destroyed while taking the inconvenience of the public into consideration.

The minister later clarified that, "As per the new order, only 26 bridges instead of 89 will be demolished, which are badly obstructing the Bahini River and have become a major cause of artificial flooding within Guwahati city." Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (Metropolitan) issued an order to demolish 89 bridges over the Bahini River.

The public has been made aware of the inconvenience. It should be noted that "Operation Flood-Free Guwahati" was started, and eviction drives are currently being carried out all throughout the city.

Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Ashok Singhal had previously stated that an eviction operation would soon be carried out in Guwahati at sites where individuals have trespassed on property near rivers and streams.

Every time there is a significant downpour in the city, Guwahati experiences a fake flood and waterlogging, which the minister blamed on the local populace.

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