Humans of Silchar submits memorandum to Municipality Board urging preventive measures for water logging and flood crisis in the city

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Cachar district have submitted a Memorandum of Representation to Executive Officer of Silchar Municipality Board requesting preventive measures for the flood crisis in Silchar. The memorandum was signed by 20 NGOs, collectively known as the Humans of Silchar.

The NGOs have expressed their concern over the delay in the implementation of funds allocated for flood prevention work, despite it being one year since the devastating flood that occurred in June 2022. The NGOs have requested specific details regarding drain projects sanctioned in Silchar, including the timeline of the work, work progress, and tentative completion dates. They have also requested financial estimates and plan estimates of the projects from drain rebuilding, drain covering, and drain clearance perspectives.

The memorandum also requests an update on the covered drain work that was started in Vivekananda Road alongwith its completion date. The NGOs have requested an explanation for the delay in the work sanctioned in October 2022, which started only in March 2023. They have also asked for barricades around all construction and drainage work to ensure the safety of citizens.

They have sought information on the cleaning of drains and khals from all collected waste after the 2022 flood in Silchar. It was also requested in the memorandum to clean the debris from the recent demolition of buildings standing on government land.

The Humans of Silchar works for the development of Barak Valley and has been the voice of the people of Silchar. They believe that these proposed measures will secure happy living for the people of Silchar Town and adjoining localities, free from the rigors of flood and its after-effects.

Speaking to reporters spokesperson of Humans of Silchar Joydeep Chakraborty said, “Yesterday after light rain many areas of Silchar got water logged despite the rainy season yet to arrive fully. So we met the Executive Office of Silchar Municipality at DC Office and wanted to know from him why work under fund received from the 15th finance commission in October month started in March. We wanted to know why Rangirkhal has not yet been cleaned after the flood.”

He added, “The drains constructed in Silchar don’t have protection around them as a result of which accidents may happen. It has come to our notice that the Municipality has placed flower tops at Sadarghat Bridge devoid of flowers with covid relief fund. The money has been taken from tax payers hence we demand them to utilise that fund in cleaning drains of Silchar.”