Desilting of Dibrugarh drain to begin in Sept: Minister

Dibrugarh: State housing and urban affairs & irrigation minister Ashok Singhal during his visit to Dibrugarh on Thursday announced that excavation and desiltation of the Dibrugarh Town Protection (DTP) Drain will be carried out from September to provide relief to the residents of Dibrugarh town from the perennial problem of waterlogging.
The minister, accompanied by Dibrugarh MLA Prasanta Phukan and mayor Saikat Patra, assessed the issues and inspected the DTP drain at various locations, including Paltan Bazar, HS Road, Station Road and Laluka.Dibrugarh town has been grappling with waterlogging since the past eight days since June 27.
The minister, observing the dire situation and hearing the complaints of the affected people, assured that a long-term plan would be implemented to resolve the waterlogging problem once and for all. He mentioned that the DTP drain, constructed way back in 1955 and which is the main stormwater drainage channel of the town, has now become shallow with reduced capacity.
“The excavation and desilting of the DTP drain will begin in September after the monsoon ends this year. This work may take more than a year to complete, but it is necessary to ensure proper flow and flush out of rainwater, thus significantly reducing the waterlogging problem in Dibrugarh town,” Singhal said.
Additionally, the minister mentioned that satellite images would be used to survey the waterlogged areas, and a report would be prepared within two months to aid in the planning and execution of the project.
Expressing empathy towards the hardships faced by the residents, Singhal promised prompt and necessary actions from the govt to alleviate the waterlogging problem.
“We understand the hardships that the residents of Dibrugarh have been undergoing for the past one week. In order to address the waterlogging problem effectively, we need to undertake a systematic approach. The excavation and desilting of the DTP drain will not only provide relief to the residents from waterlogging but also prevent such instances in the future,” Singhal added.