Probe encroachment of Guwahati wetlands: Tarun Gogoi

The government has identified encroachment of wetlands as one of the biggest causes of the waterlogging in the city. The state government in 2008 had enacted an act to control encroachment — the Guwahati Water Bodies (Preservation and Conservation) Act — but authorities failed to keep it in check.

In the last three weeks, however, a vigorous eviction drive has been initiated from the waterbodies, which include the Bharalu river, its tributaries, and the Silsako, Borsola and Sarosola.

Hundreds of families have been evicted from illegal structures such as houses, shops and culverts, but there have been complaints that permanent structures such as apartment buildings and hotels have been left behind.

“We are not going to spare anybody if the laws have been violated. Officers, if found guilty of granting permission to construct such buildings will also be punished,” Gogoi had said recently.

The state government on Saturday also appointed an expert committee to study the flood problem in the city. The panel comprises the chief executive officer of GMDA, a senior officer in the Water Resources Department and former professors of Gauhati University, IIT Roorkee, IIT Guwahati, CIPET Ahmedabad and Cotton College.