8 months ago
Silsako digging sparks health and safety concerns
People living near the Silsako water body in Guwahati are very worried.
There's a lot of digging and moving of earth for city development.
This is making a lot of dust, which is making people sick, especially kids, older people, and those with breathing problems.
Big trucks are also driving recklessly, making the roads dangerous.
There's no proper control over the dust or the traffic, and people are asking for help to make things better.
Ongoing excavation around Silsako water body in Guwahati is causing significant dust pollution.
Residents report health issues like coughing, allergies, and aggravated asthma due to the dust.
Reckless movement of heavy dumper trucks and unauthorised parking are causing traffic congestion and safety hazards.
Residents claim there is a lack of coordination among GMDA, traffic authorities, and environmental monitoring agencies.
Effective dust-control measures and traffic supervision are largely absent despite repeated complaints.
- Who
- Residents of Guwahati, particularly around the Silsako water body
- What
- Ongoing excavation and earth-moving activities causing health and safety concerns
- Where
- Guwahati, near the Silsako water body
- When
- January 30
- Why
- Lack of coordination among GMDA, traffic authorities, and environmental monitoring agencies, leading to poor planning and weak supervision
Key facts
- Location
- Guwahati
- Agencies Involved
- Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), traffic authorities, environmental monitoring agencies
- Primary Issues
- Dust pollution, reckless heavy vehicle movement, unauthorised parking, traffic congestion
- Affected Groups
- Residents, children, elderly, individuals with respiratory ailments
- Reported Health Problems
- Coughing, allergies, aggravated asthma, eye irritation
- Date of Report
- January 30
Quotes
Another resident
A resident of the surrounding localities of Silsako water body in Guwahati
“Equally alarming is the reckless movement of heavy dumper trucks transporting soil and debris. These vehicles often ply through residential roads at high speeds, with little regard for pedestrian safety or traffic norms. The situation is worsened by unruly driving behaviour and the absence of traffic supervision, turning daily commutes into a constant risk for schoolchildren, senior citizens and office-goers”
assamtribune.com
“These vehicles obstruct visibility, choke traffic flow, and have made already congested roads extremely unsafe, especially during peak hours. Emergency vehicles face difficulty navigating these stretches, posing a grave risk during medical or fire emergencies”
assamtribune.com
Local residents
Residents of the surrounding localities of Silsako water body in Guwahati
“Continuous digging and the movement of soil have generated enormous amounts of dust, which hangs persistently in the air. Residents, particularly children, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments, are facing increasing health problems such as coughing, allergies, aggravated asthma and eye irritation. Despite repeated complaints, effective dust-control measures such as regular water sprinkling, proper covering of excavated soil or regulated work hours are largely absent”
assamtribune.com
