Guwahati beautification plan falls apart

Guwahati, Jul 22 (UNI) The plans of the Asom government to beautify the city, has fallen apart with party legislators as well as the Opposition and builders advocating a 'humanitarian' touch to the drive, even as the Government is going tough with demolition.

The demolition drive of all illegal constructions in the city, initiated by Guwahati Development Department (GDD) Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma, soon after assuming office in May has come under fire from all quarters turning it into the most heated topic of the state.

The Government has now moved an Assam Apartments (Construction and Transfer of Ownership) Bill, 2006, on the last day of the Assembly, on Wednesday last, to bulldoze it through the legislature while builders have sought amendment and the opposition want more time to discuss it.

Around 30 buildings have been demolished by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and the Guwahati Municipal Development Authority (MAD). More demolitions are to follow as notices have already been served to over 100 buildings, including many major buildings in and around the city.

Like most of the growing city, Guwahati has become a nightmare for urban planners as every rule of the book was bent to suit everyone's need and the demolition drive have forced the 20 lakh citizens to sit up and take notice.

The Bill proposes, among other steps, to increase the minimum requirement of land for construction of apartments to 4 kathas from the present 3 katha. The GDD minister maintained that this provision would make the builders search for bigger plots of land in the outskirts and this, in turn, would decrease the problems of parking spaces and other related problems.

However, the demolition drive has given rise to a controversy with the ruling party MLAs as well as the Opposition decrying the GMC's efforts.

Guwahati Lok Sabha MP, also a Congress member, Kirip Chaliha had recently protested the demolition of a six-storied building in the city. The intervention of the ruling party MP had forced the officials to stop demolition and had given rise to a bitter verbal duel between Mr Chaliha and Mr Sharma.

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