Guwahati: The Assam govt has allocated Rs 150 crore as part of the Guwahati Ring Road project to provide relief from the worsening flood problem in Jorabat, the main entry point to Guwahati from upper Assam, Barak Valley and Shillong in Meghalaya, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma told the assembly on Wednesday.“The consultant for the Ring Road has been asked to draw up a plan and also talk to IIT Guwahati experts for flood problem mitigation,” the CM said.Sarma said the state govt is also considering upgrading the existing road from Digaru to Narengi to a four-lane way as an alternate route for commuters entering the city from upper Assam.During a discussion on developing Guwahati as a ‘purple city’, Sarma said Ezar trees (Queen’s crepe-myrtle) will be planted along the roughly 24-km stretch from Khanapara to Jalukbari on the NH-37 bypass. He added that the Guwahati Municipal Corporation is already using the purple shade of the ‘kapou’ flower (foxtail orchid) in its city projects and the public works department has been asked to use the colour in buildings wherever possible.BJP legislator Pradyut Bordoloi also raised the issue of the ‘purple city’ plan in the House, citing the significance of choosing the colour for this largest city, often referred to as the ‘gateway to the northeast’. Besides the choice of the colour being inspired by the ‘kapou’ flower, he also said the Ezar trees played a significant part in the Ahom battles against the Mughals at Saraighat.Bordoloi said the wood from the Ezar was used to construct the boats used by the Ahom naval fleet, which played the pivotal role in handing down a decisive defeat to the invading Mughals.Replying to Bordoloi, housing and urban affairs minister Kaushik Rai said the decision to develop Guwahati as a ‘purple city’ was taken at a stakeholders’ meeting. He said various measures, including plantation of Ezar trees, have been initiated, besides steps to ensure a cleaner and greener Guwahati.
