Guwahati eviction continues for 5th day;396 houses pulled down

The administration today pulled down 72 houses in the state capital during an ongoing eviction drive in the city to clear waterways and wetlands.
During the exercise, which entered its fifth day today after the worst ever flood in the city last week, the Kamrup Metro district administration has so far demolished 396 houses and cleared over 50 bighas of government land.
According to an official release, the authorities today carried out its demolition exercise in Silsako lake and on the banks of Bharalu river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra flowing through the city.
Out of the 72 houses pulled down during the day, 46 were in Silsako, while the rest were on the banks of Bharalu.

Regarding the displaced people, the authority has already ruled out any relief or temporary accommodation saying it would not be done as they were encroachers.
Yesterday, a woman Chandra Devi died of heart attack during demolition of her house, which was illegally constructed in Serab Bhati area on the banks of Bharalu.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the government would look after the three children of Chandra and announced Rs 1 lakh from his relief fund, besides Rs 30,000 from the Kamrup Metro district administration as financial assistance to the children.
Many of the residents whose houses have been brought down, alleged the administration was carrying out the eviction drive in a partisan manner as "it is not touching the rich."

Kamrup Metro district administration was leading the eviction drive along with Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority and Guwahati Municipal Corporation.
A large number of police personnel were also present at all places to avoid any resistance and untoward incidents.
After the banks of Silsako and Bharalu rivers, the authority would start evicting illegal occupiers on the banks of Basistha river and on the hills surrounding the city.
The authority has also identified 366 places on 19 hillocks surrounding the city as landslide-prone and has asked the people living there to shift to safer locations.
During the flood and landslide last week in Guwahati, 11 persons died and heavy rains had affected many areas, including Anil Nagar, Tarun Nagar, Dispur, Rajgarh, Zoo Road, G S Road, GNB Road and Bhagagarh.