March 22: The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has banned all construction activities along the Brahmaputra riverfront after taking up the responsibility to beautify the area.

The restrictions came close on the heels of Assam governor Lt Gen. (retd) Ajai Singh?s notification last month that declared the stretch of land along the southern bank from Kamakhya foothills to the Raj Bhavan as a development area.

The notification took into cognisance Section 44 of the GMDA Act of 1985 that authorises the civic organisation to declare any land as development area in conformity with the zoning plan of the master plan.

Officials of the GMDA said the notification, which restricted people from purchasing land within the area and authorised the government to demolish buildings if required, would help them prepare a development scheme for the riverfront.

The Gauhati High Court building was, however, excluded from the ban.

?The area has been divided into different zones to pinpoint the activities required for development of each individual unit,? one of the officials said.

He said the GMDA has to chalk out a plan in the next few months to implement the governor?s notification.

However, the government will solicit public opinion on the notification and the beautification project. ?The GMDA has to hurry up. It has to prepare a project within a short time so that the main objective of declaring the riverfront as development area does not get defeated,? a source said.

The government had proposed to develop the riverfront, a semicircular swathe of land stretching from the foothills of the Nilachal hill to the Raj Bhavan, as a tourism hotspot, considering its majestic view. Eco-parks have already been constructed on the riverbank, while organisations like Save Guwahati, Build Guwahati had been putting pressure on Dispur to keep area clean and beautiful.

One of the medium-term initiatives under the public-private partnership chalked during the first India-Asean Car Rally was development of the riverfront.

?There is no dearth of schemes to develop the riverfront, but it has to be environment friendly without damaging the surroundings,? a source said.

The GMDA had planned to shift the wholesale market in Fancy Bazar to Tetelia on the outskirts of the city with an aim to reduce the traffic congestion in the area, which is one the busiest, and beautify the riverfront. However, the idea was temporarily shelved in view of widespread protests from several quarters.

The agency is now preparing a detailed project report, which will be submitted to financial institutions to sponsor the relocation of the wholesale market.

The government had also temporarily stopped construction of the forest interpretation centre following pressure from several groups.

Sources said there was a proposal to constitute a riverfront development authority that would act as a nodal agency for creating tourist destinations without disturbing the ecological balance.

The Save Guwahati, Build Guwahati has sought a blanket ban on constructions on the riverfront. According to the organisation, the restriction was required to stop further degradation of ecology in the area.

Dhiren Barua of Save Guwahati, Build Guwahati said: ?The government should now implement the scheme in letter and spirit. It should also initiate steps to protect other rivulets and water bodies.?