Have Engaged External Consultancy Firm To Prepare "Gauhati Drainage Master Plan": State Tells High Court

On Monday, the Gauhati High Court was informed by the State that it has engaged 'Haskoning DHV Consulting Pvt. Ltd.', a consultancy agency services, for the preparation of a GIS-based Comprehensive Drainage Master Plan and Detailed Project Report for Guwahati City to tackle the problem of water logging in the city.

The division bench comprising Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice N. Unni Krishnan Nair was further informed that the work order has also been issued to the above-mentioned consultancy agency on August 21, 2024, and the agency has submitted an inspection report for the Guwahati Drainage Master Plan, which contains the following aspects:

1. Introduction with Project background, Objectives and Scope of work;
2. Project Area;
3. Approach & Methodology;
4. Scope of Topographical Survey and ground investigations, including preliminary assessment outcomes;
5. Quality Assurance Plan;
6. Project schedule, Milestones/Deliverables and Work plan.

The Advocate General, Assam apprised the Court that that the said consultancy agency is to prepare the comprehensive drainage master plan for Guwahati city within nine months from the date of issuance of the work order.

The Court appreciated the efforts of Akash Deep Baruah, IFS (Retd.), who has made a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the reasons for flooding in the Guwahati city and has also proposed some solutions which can be taken into consideration for tackling the problem of flooding in the Guwahati city.

The Advocate General submitted that the State is ready to take the services of Mr. Baruah, for tackling the problem of flooding in Guwahati city and assures this Court that he will facilitate that the suggestions of Mr. Baruah, be taken into consideration at the appropriate level by considering the inputs suggested by him.

“Having considered the above; we are of the view that the State Government is serious in tackling the problem of water logging and flooding in the Guwahati city and we hope that effective measures shall be taken at the earliest to tackle the problem,” the Court said.

The matter is listed again on October 29.

Case Title: North East Eco Development Society v. The State of Assam & 3 Ors.

Case No.: PIL/14/2024

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