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THE ASSAM TRIBUNE – 24-12-2005
Move to change green belt areas opposed
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 23 – The Kamrup Chamber of Commerce has opposed the move to
change the designated green belt areas of the city. It has also objected to the new
provisions proposed by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) in
its building byelaws for reducing the floor area ratio (FAR).
In a communication to the GMDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), it argued that the city
required its green belt areas, particularly those located near Tetelia, Boragaon, Ahomgaon
etc. The said green belt areas are adjacent to Deepar Beel, which have so far been
maintaining the ecological balance of the city and any change in these notified green belt
areas will damage the ecological balance of the city particularly, in relation to its ground
water table and atmosphere, it said. It also suggested that the authorities concerned
should rather go for notifying more city areas as green belt areas.
It has also argued that the reduction in the FAR of the buildings would inflate building
costs in the city affecting those people who were in search of roof s over their heads. It
therefore pleaded for keeping the FAR limit as per the existing provisions.
It has also suggested developing the Fancy Bazar Jail area as an open area by shifting the
jail to some outskirt area, for the convenience of the common people of the city.
It also called upon the GMDA authorities to become strict in matters of quality of the
building materials and infrastructure development to make the city a safer one. Besides, it
also made an appeal to the GMDA authorities to make provisions for notified open
spaces in the localities in the forms of parks, playing rounds, ecological parks and also
for proper utilisation of the ponds and other water bodies for the beautification of the city.
The authorities should also plan for proper parking facilities in all the busy areas of the
city, it said.
The Chamber has also opposed construction of any new industry within the limits of the
city area. It has suggested that some new industrial areas should be notified at places
beyond Vijoynagar, Sonapur and Amingaon. Creation of these new industrial areas will
save the city environment from being polluted further, extend the city limits, create
employment opportunities and will also lead to development of these areas, said the
Chamber.
The areas on the National Highway bye pass near Beltola etc areas should be notified for
prime commercial as well as residential use and no further permission should be granted
for the said areas, it said.
It has also proposed shifting of the goods yard of the NF Railway to areas like Rani to
reduce the congestion faced by the city. For the purpose, the places like Rani should be
linked to the National Highway through bye passes, it said.
Meanwhile, several other organisations like the Save Guwahati Build Guwahati, the
Assam Real Estate and Infrastructure Developers’ Association and the Brihattar
Guwahati Nagarik Samannoyrakshi Samiti have also placed their objections before the
GMDA on the proposed new building byelaws and the changes proposed in the city
master plan like de-notifying the city green belt areas.