Silchar: With the monsoon around the corner, anxieties over urban flooding have resurfaced in this south Assam town as the Rangirkhal guard wall project remains mired in delays — four years after its foundation stone was laid.Rangirkhal, one of Silchar’s primary natural drainage channels, functions as a crucial artery carrying storm water and sewage into the Ghagra river. The health of the waterway directly determines the vulnerability of low-lying localities, particularly Greater Bilpar and New Silchar, to waterlogging during heavy rainfall.Originating from Mohisha Beel near the Barak river in the eastern part of the town, Rangirkhal runs for nearly 17km across Silchar before draining out. It is among several natural channels — such as Longaikhal, Boaljurkhal and Berakhal — that together form the backbone of the town’s drainage system. However, rapid urbanisation, rampant encroachment and indiscriminate dumping of garbage have choked the channel over the years, leading to recurring artificial flooding during the monsoon.The guard wall project, announced as a key flood-mitigation measure following the 2022 deluge, has made little headway, residents said. In the current dry season, barely 100 metres of construction has been completed, even as close to 10km of the proposed stretch remains untouched.Sources said token construction activity was undertaken behind the Silchar cremation ground this season. Work near the Chandicharan Road junction reportedly stalled soon after commencement due to technical and administrative hurdles. Allegations of irregularities have also surfaced, with fingers pointed at the public works department.On Nov 29, 2022, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma laid the foundation stone for construction of guard walls on both sides of Rangirkhal. Four dry seasons have since passed. Yet, apart from sporadic work, the project has shown little tangible progress.
