GUWAHATI: In a first, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation has used a total station survey to find out the actual depth of the five river channels, which carry the city’s stormwater, and up to how many metres the silt has risen from the bed.
Total station is an electronic or optical instrument used for surveying and building construction.
The GMC, which recently issued the work order for the desiltation of the river channels, is confident of completing the exercise by March 31 before the onset of monsoon.
GMC joint commissioner Mriganka Choudhury said the survey has been completed and the work order has already been issued for the desiltation of the river channels.
The survey was carried out by two private agencies – Precision and Asian Infotech engineering.
Bharalu and Bahini among the five river channels carry the stormwater of almost three-fourths of the city during monsoon to the Brahmaputra.
Choudhury said GMC will conduct the survey again after the completion of the desiltation exercise to find out the difference between the pre-desiltation and post-desiltation condition of the river channels. “The report of the survey has yet to be compiled and submitted by the survey agencies. However, it has been found that silt layers rose by several metres. The stormwater carrying capacity of the river channels will increase with the completion of the desiltation exercise,” he added.
Meanwhile, the GMC and the PWD have been carrying out desiltation work of the drains in the city for the last one month.
