A slew of projects over the Bharalu river implemented to help Guwahati get rid of massive water logging has failed to pay any dividend during the last five years. But the amount spent in the name of a single river is astronomical.
The huge fund to the crore of rupees was implemented from 2009-10 to 2013-14. But the premier north eastern city still grapples with massive waterlogging even after heavy downpour. Then where the money have gone? The answer is down the drain.
According to information available with Assam Times, in 2009-10, Rs 50 lakh was spent in the name of an estimate for excavation of earth from evicted areas and desiltation to increase carrying capacity of the Bharalu and Mora Bharalu.
In the same year, another fund of Rs 17.53 lakh was utilized in the name of operation and maintenance of pumping station at Bharaumukh Sluice gate for dewatering of Guwahati storm water.
In 2010-11, the water resources development department spent Rs 21.70 lakh to remove silt of the river by excavation with machineries.
This was followed by the operation and maintenance of pumping station at Bharalumukh apart from installation of electric powerlines to submersible pump. The expenditure was Rs 16 lakh.
In 2011- 12, another huge amount of Rs 98.50 lakh was spent to desilt and clean the river by excavation. In the same year, Rs 18.10 lakh was spent to maintain pumping station in Bharalumukh for dewatering storm waters.
Not only that. The water resources development department spent another huge fund of Rs 65.12 lakh again for desiltation and cleaning of the same river in 2012-13. This was followed by the maintenance of the same pumping station with a Rs 22.54 lakh fund.
In 2013-14, the river was excavated wit machineries to maintain proper installation and gradation of sluices. The expenditure was Rs 71.20 lakh.
This was followed by the expenditure of Rs 25.05 lakh for operation and maintenance of the pumping station in 2013-14. These are apart from renovation of the sluice gate with Rs 5.84 lakh.
But the people the city and its people have not get even an iota of respite from rainwaters that continue to wreak havoc at regular intervals. Will the authorities look into it?
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