Lack of civic sense among Dibrugarh town residents aggravates flood problem

A Correspondent

Dibrugarh: Although flood water has receded in most areas here, there are still a couple of areas reeling under the aftermath of the incessant rains that had battered Dibrugarh town recently. While carrying on its investigation, The Sentinel has found that it was not just the faulty and ill-conceived government actions that had caused the urban floods, but also lack of civic sense and consciousness among the urban people in relation to urban planning and drainage system.

Newly-developed areas like Anandnagar, right behind the FCI warehouse, are a case in point. The residents of that area have, in clear violation of rules as well as propriety, built the walls of their houses right on top of the adjacent drain, thereby obstructing the flow of water, which in turn has contributed to waterlogging. One wonders how those people gained permission to build such structures? Is there no criteria being followed by the Dibrugarh Development Authority or Dibrugarh Municipal Board to grant permission for any construction within the town limits? Are we moving back in time, to an age when people did not have the slightest civic sense, and all they could think about was their own gratification?

In another related example of laxity of rules regarding urban planning, four-story buildings are brazenly constructed on plots of tiny dimensions without inviting any punitive measures from the authorities concerned. Also, most of the lanes in the Anandnagar area are lined with houses on both sides but with no front drain on either side. As a result, the residents suffer a lot during monsoons. Blaming or criticizing the government, as useful and necessary as it might be, is not just enough. At some point, the citizens must also do their bit. Before zeroing in on an area for settling down, arrangements concerning the drainage system must be made. Besides, the authorities cannot be allowed to go scot-free either. They must be held accountable for not taking timely actions as well as for lack of monitoring while cleaning of drains.

No sense prevails in waiting for the monsoons to start cleaning the drains; rather pre-emptive measures should be the order of the day. Similarly, municipal workers must not be allowed to leave the recently excavated filth close to the drains. Authorities must see through the entire process, from emptying the drains of the refuse and filth till their proper disposal.

Also read: Dhubri Gurudwara serves humanity, provides food and shelter to flood-hit people