Dusty Air, Debris Put MRD Road Residents At Risk

Guwahati: Throughout the past 10 months, residents, business owners, daily commuters, and law enforcement officials along the 3-km stretch of Mani Ram Dewan Road — from Guwahati Club to the Guwahati College bus stop — in Guwahati have endured relentless dust pollution caused by ongoing flyover construction. The dust, combined with noise pollution, narrow roads, and poor infrastructure, has made life increasingly difficult for everyone in the area.TOI reached out to a few of these affected people and their personal accounts revealed the severity of their daily ordeal with the polluted air around them.Utpal Das, the traffic IC of Chandmari police station, said, "Authorities sometimes splash water, but during the dry season, the situation becomes unbearable. Thankfully, no major health issues have arisen for our officers, though those stationed in the afternoons face difficulties. We ensure they are equipped with masks and glasses." Nozoom Rehman Hazarika, a builder with an office in Silpukhuri, said, "For two years, this area has been engulfed in dust. I am 50-year old and I never had health issues before, but now I struggle to breathe. My employees face similar problems, and the poor condition of sidewalks only adds to the dust problem."Sanjit Rabha, a meat seller, highlighted the challenges posed by debris and dust, "Fresh meat in my shop gets covered in dust, and without proper refrigeration, it's a struggle. My eyes are also affected by the dust, making it difficult to keep them open." Milin Dutta, a resident of MRD road area, lamented, "The dry season has worsened the situation, blanketing homes and furniture in dust. My children are suffering from respiratory issues, and the roads are hardly ever watered. It's getting worse each day." Pranjit Talukdar, a pharmacy owner, described the chaotic scene: "Heaps of sand, gravel, and debris obstruct roads, leaving pedestrians and vehicles to navigate dangerous paths. The lack of footpaths forces pedestrians onto busy roads, increasing the risk of accidents. It's affecting my business as fewer customers visit." Police officers from the Chandmari police station have also expressed concerns over the increasing traffic congestion, leading to chaos in the area. Junmoni Kalita, OC of Chandmari police station, said: "Traffic congestion has become chaotic due to narrowed service roads. Patrol vehicles struggle to navigate through blind turns, despite mirrors being installed at some points."Amid mounting complaints from citizens, the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) on a suo moto case issued stern directives to the Kamrup (Metro) district administration, the public works department, and Guwahati municipal corporation to address the persistent issues caused by the Ambari-to-Noonmati flyover construction.