GUWAHATI: The Brahmaputra Board on Friday, June 19, launched the Basistha Riverfront Development Project along the Basistha River at Guwahati, aiming to restore a degraded stretch of the urban riverfront affected by years of indiscriminate solid waste dumping.
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The development covers approximately 370 metres of the Basistha River stretch adjoining the Board headquarters. The project includes landscaping, plantation, green space development, pedestrian pathways, viewing areas, riverbank protection measures, and improved sanitation and waste management systems. Efforts will also focus on enhancing local biodiversity and creating a clean, accessible public space for residents.
According to a press statement, the left-bank road-cum-embankment adjoining the Brahmaputra Board campus had gradually turned into a dumping site, resulting in environmental degradation, foul odour, mosquito breeding, and public health concerns.
The board has collaborated with INTACH for the planning and design of the project. The initiative is expected to serve as a model for riverfront improvement and rejuvenation efforts in other parts of the Basistha River.
The project was inaugurated by Ranbir Singh, Chairman of the Brahmaputra Board, in the presence of senior officials including Abhay Kumar, General Manager, Adil Khan, Secretary, and Manu Bhatnagar of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Residents, senior citizens, and board officials attended the programme.