Locals stop construction of basin in New Silchar, demand completion of master drainage first

On Thursday, laying of pipelines and construction of the basin were undertaken by the administration under AMRUT project in New Silchar area. Hearing the news, around 500 locals of Chandicharan Road hit the streets to protest against this decision. They forced the labourers to stop the ongoing work as a result of which laying of pipelines under AMRUT project was also halted.

Knowing about the protests, Sadar Police Station OC Amrit Singh and Rangirkhari Police Station in-charge Avijit Baruah reached the spot and tried to pacify the public. But the locals stuck to their demand and told that they wouldn’t allow the basin to be constructed. Silchar Sadar Circle officer Kumar Gourob Das also reached the spot after hearing about the protests. As per the local residents of the area, public representatives have provided assurances to solve the water logging problem in the area many times but all in vain.

The locals have demanded to first finish the construction of master drainage on the east side of the road adjoining Sanjay Market. All the wastewater can go through that master drain to Rangirkhal which would solve the problem of water logging in Chandicharan Road. Instead of constructing basin, the drain of Chandicharan Road has to be repaired and made fit for use so that the water logging problem can be solved. The locals discussed these issues with the Circle Officer.

Speaking to reporters, a local resident of the area told, “In our locality, water from South Silchar flows through the local drain bigger than it’s dimensions. After rain within thirty minutes water logging takes place in houses of the locality. The water level almost touches the waist. As a result we have to shift to a higher storey or go to another house. This has been going on since the last ten years during rainy season. Now the administration is planning to release water through our drain which is very narrow and can’t hold out against the enormous flow of water due to which water will flow through the main road and our houses. The project should be implemented properly. We have complained to the local MLA, MP, submitted memorandum to the DC and even blocked the road but no one pays any heed to our demand.”

Today a civic meeting was organised by local residents of Chandicharan Road regarding the drainage issue. In the meeting, a local resident told reporters, “We have informed about our problems to the MLA and MP but none of them ever came to address our issues. We have said that pipelines can be laid but they can’t construct a culvert here. First drain has to be constructed if they want to build a culvert. We demand completion of master drainage adjoining Sanjay Market. This will solve the water logging problem in Chandicharan Road, Soshan Road as well as Subhash Nagar by diverting wastewater.”