Guwahati: Dibrugarh in Assam has been grappling with severe waterlogging and flash floods for decades.
Incessant rain over the past three days has left Dibrugarh’s main streets underwater, with no proper drainage system to flush out the rainwater. The Dibrugarh Town Protection (DTP) Drain, a crucial stormwater drainage system spanning 9.5 km, failed to function due to encroachment, garbage dumping, and plastic pollution.
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The DTP drain, originating from Seujpur, traverses densely populated areas before reaching the Sessa River.
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However, a significant portion (around 5.56 km) is encroached upon within Dibrugarh town.
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This includes buildings, a religious structure, and other establishments, significantly narrowing the passage and hindering water flow.
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“The drain suffers from extensive encroachment, obstructing proper drainage. The authorities are aware but haven’t taken action,” alleged a Water Resource Department official.
He stated that over 1600 square feet of the drain is illegally occupied, causing blockages and hindering cleaning efforts.
The situation has caused immense hardship for residents. Areas like H.S. Road, Mancotta Road, AT Road, and Thana Chariali have been underwater for the past week.
This isn’t new as similar crises occurred in 2015 and 2020, with the town submerged for days.
Residents criticized the Dibrugarh district administration’s lack of a permanent solution.
“We need a master plan,” says a senior citizen.
“Upgrading the Dibrugarh Municipal Board to a corporation hasn’t addressed the issue. The blame game continues between the Water Resources Department and the municipality. Every year, we face waterlogging due to their inaction”, he said.
He further criticized local MLA Prasanta Phukan’s empty promises made in 2015 to resolve the problem.