Assam: Dibrugarh DC holds emergency meeting to address water logging crisis

Dibrugarh: For the second consecutive day, Dibrugarh town found itself grappling with water logging, as most roads and areas remain submerged under water.

Residents are facing immense challenges due to severe water logging, prompting Dibrugarh District Commissioner Bikram Kairi to convene an emergency meeting at his office on Friday to address the pressing situation.

In attendance were key officials, including Dibrugarh Mayor Dr Saikat Patra, Deputy Mayor Ujjal Phukon, Dibrugarh Development Authority Chairman Ashim Hazarika and Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation Executive Officer Navas Das.

Representatives from the PWD (Roads), Water Resources Department and Town and Country Planning Department were also present, alongside all ward councillors.

The District Commissioner directed the officials to take immediate action to address the water logging crisis of the town.

He instructed the Municipal Corporation to clear the waterlogged areas, de-silt and clean the clogged drains and enforce measures to prevent indiscriminate dumping of garbage and waste into the drains.

The impact of the flash floods has been so severe that several government offices, including the office of the Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation, have been flooded with knee-deep waters.

The recent flash floods have triggered anger among residents, casting doubts on the efficacy of the newly upgraded Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation in tackling the longstanding issue of water logging.

Questions have been raised regarding the absence of preventive measures taken to clean major drains, including the Dibrugarh Town Protection Drain, before the onset of the monsoon season.

This oversight has resulted in extensive inundation across all 22 wards of the town, prompting residents to question the effectiveness of the civic body in managing the water logging crisis despite its recent upgrade.