Skip to content Skip to navigation

Rs 20 cr down the drain; no respite

At a time when massive water logging wreaks havoc in Guwahati even after a heavy downpour, GMDA and water resources department take centrestage following the revelations that Rs 20 crore was spent during the last five years in the name of desiltation and excavation of the rivers flowing across the city. But no result is in sight.

According to information available with Assam Times, the heavily manned departments spent Rs 78.37 lakh in 2009-2010 to desilt the river Basistha apart from linking the river to Mora Bharalu spending Rs 69.29 lakh.

Again in 2011-12, another amount of Rs 44.95 lakh was spent to desilt the river. But of no avail. But not even an area in the city got respite from waterlogging.

What is more striking is stunning is that a huge amount of Rs 1.20 crore was spent in 2011 -12only in the name of a cleanliness drive in the river Bahini which is no less responsible for massive waterlogging in Guwahati.

The same river required Rs 1.41 cr to be desilted deploying men and machines in 2013-14.

Not only that. GMDA and water resources department spent Rs 16.15 crore in 2009-10 in the name of excavation and desiltation of rivers from Motoria to Bonda through Silasaku. But there is hardly any positive result.

Hardly any respite is in sight despite this huge expenditure. Waterlogging has been a regular feature these days.

With this, it has become clear that a huge amount of money ti the tune of Rs 20 crore has gone down the drain in the name of excavation, desiltation and cleaning the rivers Bharalu, Bahini, Basistha, Silsaku, Borsola and Sarusola during the last 5 years.

Assam Times will leave before you more sensational revelations how over Rs 10 crore was spent only in the name of desiltation and excavation of the Bharalu river during this period.

Will chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who is committed to end the waterlogging chapter even by evicting hundreds of people in the largest ever drive in the city, look into it?   

Add new comment

Random Stories

Gory incident: Two brothers beheaded in Jorhat

16 May 2012 - 8:47pm | editor
In yet another bizarre incident that sends shockwaves across Assam, five people beheaded two brothers before surrendering before police in Jorhat on Wednesday. The gory incident took place at...

AJYCP members distribute relief materials to flood affected people at Teok

Marginal let up in flood scene

3 Aug 2016 - 5:47pm | AT News
Water levels of the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries start receding. But the level of misery of the flood-hit people keeps surging on every passing day. The flood waters in many areas have gone...

Incredible India Festival In Kuwait

26 Jan 2010 - 1:31pm | Parimita Barooah
In connection with the Indian Republic Day celebrations, Indian Ambassador Sri Ajai Malhotra inaugurated an eleven-days long Incredible India Festival organized by Lulu Hypermarket in Al Rai. The...

Twin blast at Haflong

8 Oct 2012 - 5:56pm | Anup Biswas
Twin blast at Haflong on Sunday with an interval of only 30 minutes rocked Haflong. First one was exploded near synod Gallery and Second one was exploded near Statefed godown in Sarkari bagan but...

Other Contents by Author

In a resolute display of solidarity and resilience, over 5,000 women hailing from the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar-Mizo communities congregated at Peace Ground, Tuibuong, Lamka, Churachandpur in Manipur, kickstarting the annual 16 Days Activism on Violence Against Women. Orchestrated by the Women of Lamka, the event was a fervent call for justice and a poignant outcry against the distressing instances of gender-based violence (GBV) that have plagued the state. Led by the indomitable Ngaineikim from Kuki Women organization for human rights, the program's inauguration was a tapestry of impassioned speeches, stirring presentations, and solemn moments dedicated to the victims. Distinguished figures such...
Guwahati: The Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) has voiced its deep concern regarding the recent surge in verbal assaults on journalists by various individuals. In response, the forum calls upon the State's media community to stand united in the face of adversity. In a released statement, the forum highlighted the disparaging remarks made by AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal towards video journalists, where he suggested that they should face physical violence. “While we vehemently denounce Ajmal's stance and urge for appropriate actions against the politician, we implore media professionals to demonstrate unity, integrity, and professionalism in their workplaces,” remarked JFA president Rupam...
The North-East Finale of the WWF-India Wild Wisdom Global Challenge 2023 was held on November 3, 2023, at Royal Global University in Guwahati, Assam. This year's challenge was themed "Birds of the World" and was open to students from classes 6 to 9. A total of 80 schools with 160 students from Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and various districts of Assam participated in the finale. After a closely contested competition, the team from Sarla Birla Gyan Jyoti School, Assam, represented by Ritvik Anand (class 6) and Garvita Jain (class 8), emerged as the North East Champions. The 2nd position was bagged by the team from Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya Tezpur, Assam...
Siliguri: Salesian College (Autonomous) Siliguri joined 11 other venues of Kolkata Salesian province in holding Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival, 2nd edition on 13th October 2023. North Bengal’s acclaimed Nepali Film Director, musician and singer Mr. Anmol Gurung inaugurated the festival at Salesian College Siliguri just as Los Angeles Salesians hosted the Global Youth Film Awards in the picturesque foothills of Hollywood. “These films serve as a poignant canvas, capturing the myriad emotions, trials, tribulations, dreams, and aspirations of young people,” says Festival Director in Siliguri Salesian Fr C.M. Paul. Fr Paul adds, “They [films] also show the profound desire of...
In a celebration of literary heritage and a significant milestone, the Assam Publishing Company has released the long-awaited second edition of Anatole France's "Thais" in Assamese. The reissue of this classic comes exactly 59 years after its initial publication, bringing the timeless themes of love, temptation, and redemption to a new generation of readers. Golok Chandra Datta, an esteemed translator hailing from the region, skillfully translated the renowned French author Anatole France's work. This translation marks a crucial milestone in Datta's career as it represents his inaugural published translation effort. The translation aims to convey the depth and beauty of the original...
Guwahati, 23 September 2023: Assam Don Bosco University celebrated its 12th Convocation on Saturday, 23rd September, 2023, at Tapesia Campus Sonapur, Guwahati. The esteemed gathering included the Hon’ble Governor of Assam, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, who graced the occasion as the university's visitor, along with Vice Chancellor Fr. (Dr) Jose Palley, Pro Vice Chancellor Fr. Joseph Nellnatt, Directors of Schools, Heads of Departments, faculty members, students, and dignitaries from across the country. Addressing the graduating students, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria encouraged them to contribute meaningfully to society, emphasizing the importance of innovation and dedication in shaping a better...
Golaghat: Last Wednesday, an insightful sensitization workshop addressing the detrimental effects of tobacco use was organized at the conference hall of the District & Sessions Judge’s office in Golaghat. The event witnessed the presence of key figures in the fight against tobacco consumption, including Secretary of DLSA Golaghat, Smt. JyotiSmita Sarma, Dr. Sunita Ekka from District Tobacco Control Cell, Golaghat, and Rudhir Prakash Sarma, Divisional Coordinator of Upper Assam Division from The UNION. Officials from the DLSA office and the health department also actively participated. The workshop commenced with a warm welcome address, followed by an insightful discussion on the...
Guwahati: Biodiversity conservation organizations, Aaranyak and WWF-India, have joined forces to tackle the growing issue of human-wildlife conflict (HWC), particularly the pressing concern of human-elephant conflict (HEC), by installing a remarkable 10 km-long low-cost solar fence in the fringes of the Central Range (Kachugaon) of Raimona National Park in Assam. This initiative aims to facilitate coexistence between humans and wildlife, offering immediate relief to the local community. The community-managed single-strand solar fence is expected to alleviate the ever-increasing incidents of HEC for approximately 568 households, which translates to a population of 2700-3000 people...
Guwahati: In an effort to nurture the next generation's understanding of nature and sustainability, WWF-India continues to make significant strides with its Ek Prithvi program. The importance of environmental education for the long-term success of children has never been more evident, and this program has been instrumental in connecting young minds to the environment. Launched in 2016, Ek Prithvi focuses on fostering environmental awareness, knowledge, and the skills required for conservation among students. It has already made a profound impact, reaching out to over 145,200 students across 11 states. When the pandemic struck, Ek Prithvi adapted with the "One Earth One Home" program,...
Dibrugarh - The North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS) and the Environmental Forum of Assam, in collaboration with the Centre for Social Work Studies at Dibrugarh University, successfully hosted a two-day 'People's Dialogue on Development Discourse in North East India' from August 28th to 29th. The event, held at the Vikshan conference hall of Dibrugarh University, gathered a diverse group of regional stakeholders to engage in insightful conversations aimed at reshaping development approaches in the North-East. The North-East region of India, known for its cultural diversity and unique geography, has often been a focal point for discussions on development, infrastructure,...