Packets dumped in Borsola Beel at Paltan Bazar. File picture

March 28: The Kamrup (metro) district administration has opened six helpline numbers to check grabbing of land and waterbodies in the city.

People can call up the toll-free helpline (1800-345-3628) in the district administration’s office or 94351-92702 at Dispur revenue circle office, 94350-60678 at Guwahati revenue circle office, 98640-38458 at Chandrapur revenue circle office, 94351-38360 at Sonapur revenue circle office and 94351-86322 at Azara revenue circle office to register any complaint on land encroachment or filling of waterbodies.

The fresh appeal comes after 15 people were arrested on Wednesday on charges of illegally occupying and filling up land in Silsako Beel, one of the important waterbodies in the city. The accused were arrested following instructions from the district administration.

During investigation, it came to light that unscrupulous people were illegally filling up the waterbodies and selling them off. Earth-filling, encroachment and occupying land or waterbodies are prohibited under the Guwahati Water Bodies (Preservation and Conservation) Act, 2008. The violation of the act may invite imprisonment up to three years and fine of Rs 50,000 or both.

“We are taking steps for strict implementation of the law for protection of the waterbodies. Apart from the land brokers, action will be taken against those buying such land from unscrupulous brokers. Hence, before buying a plot of land people should talk to the revenue circle officers in the respective areas to check whether the land is protected or was formerly a waterbody,” a district administration official said.

There are four important waterbodies — Deepor Beel, Sarusola Beel, Borsola Beel and Silsako Beel. These waterbodies act as reservoirs of the city during monsoon but continuous encroachment and earth-filling have reduced their sizes, thereby aggravating the annual problem of flash floods.

Sources said the step has been initiated by the administration after chief minister Tarun Gogoi recently asked it to strictly enforce protection of land of waterbodies ahead of the rainy season.

Although the administration sought the help of the residents and urged them to use the helpline numbers to inform the district administration about any incident of earth-filling, many in the city question the drive saying similar steps are taken every year before rainy season and forgotten thereafter.

“There should be consistent drive against land encroachment and strict implementation of the law. We had seen similar action last year before the monsoon but the administration had forgotten after that,” said a resident of Noonmati.