Guwahati: After Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted heavy rainfall for Assam, authorities have ramped up preparations across the city to tackle potential flooding and ensure public safety. However, citizens showed dissatisfaction with the quality of work being carried out.Assam chief secretary Ravi Kota on Sunday chaired a meeting with all the concerned authorities assessing the progress on the preparations, including the ongoing de-siltation operation, readiness of the pumping systems, construction of guard wall along Bharalu river and key drainage channels that intersect the national highway route.“Officials reviewed actions taken to cover open manholes and drains, and to install barricades at identified high risk locations to prevent accidents. Departments were directed to ensure that all vulnerable points are secured and continuously monitored,” a press release read.During the meeting, the Guwahati traffic branch was given the responsibility to devise alternate traffic management plans for vehicles to minimise disruptions. This was done to minimise disruption during floods.The city often succumbs to landslides during rainfall, but during the meeting more than 300 locations were identified as landslide prone zones and surveillance has been intensified.While drainage cleaning is actively going on in the city, citizens have pointed out the timing of such works. Rabindra Nath Mazumdar, a resident of Kahilipara, said, “Although it is a positive sign that the work is finally underway, the drain cleaning often happens very late. If undertaken earlier, the results could have been significantly better. The authorities must adopt proactive planning, and include citizens during the planning stage.”At Juripar locality in the city’s Panjabari area, people have reported that the drains which were being constructed have been left uncovered. “Most of the workers had gone home to celebrate Eid, but have not come back yet. The drains are open and walking through these roads literally feels like a nightmare, it’s like an accident is waiting to happen,” said Monjul Dass, a resident of that area.
