Govt to undertake Rs 1,700-cr sewerage project in Guwahati

GUWAHATI: In order to provide relief from massive water logging during rains in the state capital, the state Budget for 2014-15 proposed a Rs 1,700 crore sewerage project and stopping of giving land settlement in the hills.

The step was taken up by the government after nine persons died in the city during the flood and landslide due to heavy rains in June.

Presenting the state Budget for the current fiscal today, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, "A sewerage project for Guwahati has been proposed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,700 crore.

"It is proposed to create a scientific storm water drainage system in Guwahati for mitigating the problem of water logging and artificial flood. It is proposed to ensure protection of the water channels and other water bodies of Guwahati from being further encroached."

Gogoi, who also holds the Finance portfolio, said the major causes of flood and water logging in the city was observed to be rampant encroachment in hill areas, felling of trees and earth cutting.

"Therefore, our government has decided not to give settlement of land to any person in hill land in and around Guwahati," he added.

On housing in the state capital, Gogoi said: "It is proposed to provide affordable housing for 10,000 urban poor of Guwahati."

The Budget also proposed to construct under bridges at five places of level crossing to ease traffic congestion in the city, while all the major roads, lanes and bye-lanes were proposed to be provided with street lights.