Come rains, Harijan Colony despairs

Guwahati: A short spell of rain on Monday morning was enough to plunge the residents of old Harijan Colony in Fatasil Ambari into a state of despair.
Since 1969, generation after generation has been living in deplorable condition, which has not changed much.
The colony shelters over 250 people who have migrated to the city and while some of them live in tin roofed houses and shacks, about 54 families live in the dilapidated quarters.Lack of basic amenities and unsafe environment have forced many to relocate.
Although new quarters are being constructed near the new Harijan Colony under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) scheme, thre residents are waiting for three years now for work to be completed.
Guwahati Municipal Corporation mayor Mrigen Sarania said, “The project is being looked after by the central govt. In the last few years, work has experienced a hiccup, but hopefully it will be completed soon,”
Currently, there are four three-storey quarters, and all are extensively cracked with visible signs of decay. The balconies are riddled with holes and the roofs have significant leakages.
The residents of the old colony said during the monsoon, they sometimes have to wake up in the middle of the night to move their beds because water leaks through the roof, flooding the entire room.