The Times of India 08.05.2013
Garbage dumping stretch to become park
The GMC has identified this stretch of land from Supermarket Police
Point to Last Gate on GS Road leading to the side entrance of the Assam secretariat and has invited agencies and firms to execute beautification work.
The stretch of land with heaps of garbage is owned by Oil India Limited
(OIL) and has a crude carrying pipeline underneath the ground. A
spokesman of GMC said, “Oil India Limited has given the no objection
certificate for developing the oil pipeline area for 5 years. A proposal
for beautification of the area as a park has been conceptualized by the
GMC. We are planning to beautify other such neglected stretches along
the roadside which present an ugly look of the city,” said the official.
He added that the area despite being close to the secretariat has
remained neglected for several years and no major construction
activities can be carried out on the stretch due to the existence of the
oil pipeline.
The All Guwahati Traders’ Association
(AGTA) has welcomed the move. AGTA general secretary Prantosh Roy urged
the GMC authorities to expedite similar projects in other government
lands along the river in the city.
“We welcome the GMC move.
Government lands should be preserved by beautifying the areas so that
encroachers can not settle in these areas,” said Roy. The AGTA earlier
moved the GMC to beautify the riverfronts of Bharalu and Mora Bharalu in
Guwahati.
“The government should make it mandatory for the
private companies to provide funds for beautification of the city and
the GMC should select the points which will be developed for the
purpose. Otherwise, the roadsides and the periphery of wetlands and
riverfronts will continue to be dumping yards,” added Roy.
