Dibrugarh: After a four-hour downpour flooded parts of Jorhat last week, the Jorhat Municipal Board began cleaning the channel of the Tocklai river on Monday.Workers removed garbage, plastics and water hyacinths from multiple stretches of the river channel to restore drainage capacity ahead of the monsoon peak. The move followed waterlogging in Choladhara, Tarun Ram Phukan Road, Raja Maidam, Tarajan, Rupali Nagar, Chandan Nagar and Dorongichuk, triggering public anger over recurring floods blamed on choked drains and a silted, degraded channel.The Tocklai, a tributary of the Bhogdoi, flows through much of Jorhat before meeting the Tarajan stream on the town’s northwestern outskirts. Years of garbage dumping, encroachments and neglect have narrowed the watercourse and reduced its ability to carry excess rainwater.“The cleaning work carried out today is part of our sustained effort to restore the Tocklai’s flow capacity. A clogged river directly worsens flooding in low-lying areas of the town. We will continue monitoring the cleared stretches to ensure they are not polluted again,” a JMB official said.Residents welcomed the drive but demanded long-term fixes. “These cleaning drives are a good step, but they cannot be the only answer. Illegal encroachments on the river banks have to be dealt with firmly, and the drainage network needs a complete overhaul,” said Mridul Gogoi of Tarajan.The JMB and district administration have faced criticism over slow drainage upgrades amid rapid urbanisation and unplanned construction.
Workers removed garbage, plastics and water hyacinths from multiple stretches of the river channel
Workers removed garbage, plastics and water hyacinths from multiple stretches of the river channel
Workers removed garbage, plastics and water hyacinths from multiple stretches of the river channel
